The first casualties of upheaval can be love, kindness, and patience. But crisis is also a moment when love for God & one another can spring up. For 150 days, starting on 17th March 2020, I will write 300 words based on one of the 150 psalms in the bible. How can I find and give love in the midst of coronavirus?

Standing atop a mountain in France – looking away over the snow and blue sky – and there in the distance was Mont Blanc – Europe’s highest peak.

Wow. Just wow.

I leave the window open because it is hot – and insects find their way into my room. Then when I put them out I realise that I’ve never seen some of them before, and they are incredibly intricate.

Wow. Just wow.

Almost every human who’s lived has had at least one of these moments, when we’ve looked at something in the natural world and simply said “Wow!”. We’ve been amazed. Psalm 104 is long – and it’s full of “Wow”.

¹⁰ He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. ¹¹ They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. ¹² The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. ¹³ He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;  the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work. ¹⁴ He makes grass grow for the cattle,  and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: ¹⁵ wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. ¹⁶ The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. ¹⁷ There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. ¹⁸ The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.

(Yes, I don’t know what a hyrax is either).

But the difference between a nature programme on the BBC or National Geographic – is that the writer of Psalm 104 sees all in the world – and He sees God at work. Wonderfully so.

²⁴ How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

This is a choice. When I see the mountains, the birds, the sea…. I can look at them alone, or I can look up to God who made and sustains them. If I will choose to remember that God is behind all of the universe – then it will inspire me to praise.

³³ I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. ³⁴ May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord.

There are lots of reasons to praise God. The wonderful thing with the world he has created is that we see it many times a day – we see a tree, the sky, a plant, an insect – and it can be a reminder to praise. Let’s use these reminders – life is more rewarding and fun praising God.

Love

Matt