Psalm 104: 24-26

²⁴ How many are your works, Lord!
    In wisdom you made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.
²⁵ There is the sea, vast and spacious,
    teeming with creatures beyond number—
    living things both large and small.
²⁶ There the ships go to and fro,
    and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked up and saw ashes falling from the sky. I had never seen such a sight in my life! The smoke hearkened back to my first fall in Sacramento two years ago, when I was introduced to the phenomenon of California forest fires. This was the first time I had to wear a mask to go outside. Now, it seems, we have two reasons!

As we were enjoying a delicious salad made from vegetables bought at the farmers’ market, Greg commented that he was worried about the health of the people working on the farms. Potential exposure to a virus, and now, to toxins in the air? I was moved by his compassion for strangers. It is easy for us to forget others when we are exhausted, anxious, or afraid. But our faith calls us outside of concern only for ourselves: to draw our attention to others. To other people and to all of God’s marvelous creation, plants and animals, water and air. All of our environment is affected by natural disasters.

I invite you today to offer a prayer for the people and other creations God calls your attention to. Breathe deeply the love of God into your body. And breathe the love of God into God’s creation.