GOD’S GOOD GREEN EARTH

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 214

Okay. The title is self-explanatory. Blog is done. No need to bloviate — ha, ha, ha!!!

Don’t ya feel gypped? Just mess’n with y’all.

Seriously though, I’m sure you’ve already determined that for which I’m grateful today. That all said, I’ll bother ya for a bit and fill in the backstory… because, well, I’m “Just Jason” after all.

Sooooo… this morning before heading into the office, I took a 50-mile (round trip) detour to da donut shop in St. James. You locals know the one: Schmidt’s. (And if you don’t know Schmidt’s and you live in these parts, well shame on you. It’s a fat man’s paradise of gluttonous goodness). Anyway, I digress.

As I was mosey’n on down the road, my mind drifted to all the greenery around me, especially all the trees and groves nearby. And in my mind, I just kinda wondered how much water all those giant trees drink in one day. And then, just like that, I pondered how much water one single stalk of corn slurps in a day, given a steady supply of groundwater and moisture from the sky.

Now, I didn’t look that up, because I figured there are just too many variables: temperature, humidity, hours of daylight, soil conditions, etc. (All ye farmers– is thoust pastor on track?). I’m trying to come off as sounding smart. I’m sure I’m not. Hahaha!!!

Well… I got’s me my donuts, arrived at the office, then went to work. My long johns (with toasted coconut) were magically delicious, btw. After snarfing down the succulent pillows of goodness, I began to prep for Sunday’s sermon and got lost in the world of all things biblical exegesis and study… that is until my office got uber dark. Little did I know a massive thunder-boomer of a storm was overhead.

Next thing I know, the sky opened up and buckets of water poured forth. Noah! Noah! Within ten minutes, rivers of water were streaming down the road and the sidewalk around the church was under water. Yikes, right?

That said, that’s just what God’s good green earth around us needed. It’s been a bit toasty lately, and the crops are growing like no tomorrow. Knee high by the Fourth of July? Ha! More like 4-5’ high by the Fourth. God keeps this up, our farmers are gonna have bumper crops.

Okay, let’s fast forward. The workday ended, we fed the pups, then drove north to another local joint to grab a sammich for supper — and apparently, so did everyone else. (Ours was merely a lack of planning). The staff were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and so were all the little tykes who’s parents weren’t paying them any attention. (This old fart was getting annoyed)… Squirrel!

Back to my story. As we drove to Springfield, I again noticed the gloriousness of God’s good, green earth. The crops, the trees, brush — all of it — all the shades of green just fill the landscape all around.

As I reflected upon that, and this morning’s tryst to Schmidt’s, I marveled at how intricate our planet’s ecosystem is. The crops, trees, prairies and shrubs: how many untold gallons of water does it take (and just around these parts) to daily nurture it all? Yet, the rains come and keep it all in balance.

And for that, the crops grow, CO2 is scrubbed from our atmosphere, and oxygen and food for all earth’s creatures are produced. And all of that, my friends, is held in balance by our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Christian scriptures tell us Jesus “is before all things, and by him all things hold together” — Colossians 1:17, CSB. Similarly, the author of Hebrews wrote: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word” — Hebrews 1:3.

I’m grateful this evening that our Lord upholds and sustains all things: you, me, our animals, and in totality: God’s good green earth. I’m thankful for today’s rains; the crops that are growing; and, the beautiful landscape that daily makes me marvel at all God creates and maintains.

What are you thankful for today?