Why are there loons? Or lynx? Or hummingbirds? Or eagles? Why are there lady slippers? Or Indian pipe? None of them seem to have too much relevance to human life right at the surface of things.
We haven’t domesticated them or depend on them for food. We seem to live without any reliance upon them. Why are they? “God loves pizzazz!”
That was the answer I came away with after the Lay School of Theology Class from Luther Seminary at Bethlehem last week. Our presenter, Dr. Kathryn Schifferdecker had been leading us through Job 38-40 and the Creation Psalms (i.e. 103, 104). Our presenter pointed out something I had not paid attention to before. She said most of the creatures and the natural settings and events that are described in Job seem to have very little use for humans.
Of course we all had read these chapters before and had enjoyed the breadth of their descriptions of the natural world. But the obvious fact that most of the creatures are not herds and flocks that biblical people depended upon was something to think about.
In these chapters God was not pointing out to Job (humanity) that the reason we should appreciate God’s providence is how it applies directly and in utilitarian ways to our daily lives. Rather God is simply describing to Job the astounding scope of creation, much of which is uninhabitable for humans and yet is evidence of God’s artistry and authority.
Our presenter quoted Annie Dillard for another reason to appreciate the breadth and depth of God’s handiwork: “God loves pizzazz!”
And frankly so do we! We can’t imagine these lakes without loons, our gardens without hummingbirds, our skies without eagles.
We are shown in these biblical collections the vista of beauty and wonder in God’s creation which is not just made for our use or abuse. The quote from Annie Dillard sounded just right to me.
“God loves pizzazz.”
What does this tell me? God asks of Job, “Is it your wisdom that sets the hawk flying when he spreads his wings to travel south? Does the eagle soar at your command to make her Eyre in the heights?” Job 39:26,27 (JB)
These passages describe an abundant and exuberant providence that soars way beyond human understanding or control. These speeches of God’s in Job are a puzzle to figure out when we assume that they are meant to answer Job’s pressing questions of human life. They don’t. Rather these passages seem to stop Job’s arguments and complaints by pointing to something so amazing and so intense. Job has been asking God “why?” and God redirects Job’s questioning soul to take in the scope of the one to whom he is speaking.
The display of diversity in God’s creativity and freedom echoes the value of life and the preciousness of each, as well as the place God intended for them all. Job (humanity) is invited and challenged to perceive the place in God’s design each and every thing that was created has, living or inanimate.
I don’t need to understand or even name the relationship to me to respect and value God’s choice in making them so. Ecologists might be able to tell me of the intricacies of webs and cycles of which I am a small part. They can tell me that each part of God’s creation is placed within a scheme of awesome balance from which all of humanity does benefit. I am enriched by what science can explain. And I must heed the warnings that they issue about our disregard of God’s designs. But finally God asks us to respect that which God hath made!
In the awestruck spiritual sense of wonder, praise such as Psalm 8 flows from the soul that appreciates and understands not only the wide scope of God’s handiwork but also that mortals do indeed have a special place. We also are part of the pizzazz!
“O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is thy name in all the earth.” Psalm 8:9 (RSV)
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Reverend Mark Ditmanson of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais.
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