As I cycled up from North Wootton to Pilton the other evening there were glow-worms in the bank. Strange little lamps nestling in the grass. Above there were no stars to be seen, but the shades and patterns of clouds moving against the moon.
The detail of a roadside is fascinating. The grass, flowers, fungi and insects in their own world. Occasionally there is the pathway of the local badgers, or deer. And over it, is the hedge: hawthorn, elder, dogwood, elm, centuries old some of it.
At all levels it is remarkable, from the structure of living cells, down to the complex molecules and the sub-atomic particles; and out to the clouds and gases surrounding the earth, and the solar system, and galaxy.
But none of it exists in isolation. The plants, insects and animals all relate to each other, in pollination, food, decay and generation, an ecological network which is part of something much larger. And the larger system is influenced by the winds and the rain, the evaporation of water, the turn of the earth and the changing seasons as the earth moves round the sun.
In the midst of that, is us. We possibly think of ourselves as being in the middle, but, if anything else could think, it would probably also reckon it was the middle. But we are in it. We are part of it.
But also aware of it, and able to deliberately change it: cultivating land and plants to produce the food we need; transforming the energy in water, air and carbon into other forms; processing chemicals to form pure metals, alloys and plastics; and devising ways to order our own life.
And like the message in a letter or the music in a flow of sound, there is more to this than meets the eye or is subject to analysis.
The book of Proverbs talks about Wisdom, playing in the presence of God and in the creation of all things. The book of Genesis talks about God calling everything into being. The gospel of John talks about the logos, the Word, being an aspect of God, and being involved in the process of creation.
In our church services in September we will be taking up this theme of Creation, in different aspects and in different ways. There are Harvest Thanksgiving services in all our churches. There is an Animal Service at North Wootton.
And our Village Services and Holy Communion will all pick up, and reflect in different ways this theme of Creation: in our music, our hymns, our prayers, and what we do.
Do join us.
David Osborne
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