Draw us into harmony with your will
This world that we live in is a truly wonderful place. Everywhere we look we can see something of beauty. In England we have so many areas of outstanding natural beauty, from places like the Lake District, pictured above; the big skies in the Fens, where I live; wonderful coastal areas; etc etc — I could go on and on. And maybe I’m spoilt more than many people, because I also enjoy urban and industrial areas. I like to see the straight lines and patterns made by man-made structures, especially in silhouette against a great looking sky.
I would guess that the same as applies to England applies to the rest of the world. I haven’t travelled outside of the United Kingdom myself, but from what I’ve seen in pictures and on the television, I’d say there are many, many, places around the world that are as beautiful, if not more so, as England: Ayres Rock; The Grand Canyon; Niagara Falls; The Himalayas; etc etc — again, I could go on and on.
Sadly, though, with all of this beauty around us, I think we’re a long way from being in harmony with God’s will. We’re wrecking our planet. Environmental issues are becoming a huge concern, or at least they should be, for all of humankind. For most of us the really big issues are overwhelming, and there feels little we can do personally. It really needs change at national governmental level.
But there is one area that I think each and every one of us can have an effect on. And it doesn’t need to cost us more financially. One thing I can’t help noticing when I look around this wonderful world we live in, is the amount of rubbish that’s always visible. It doesn’t seem to matter where you look, there’ll be a scrap of paper flying around, or a discarded plastic bottle, or a tin can, or, more often than not, all of those and many many more! Even if we don’t actively do anything about what is already there, we can ensure that we don’t add to it.
I can remember as a child there was always an anti-litter campaign of one sort or another going on. Perhaps we need more of them now, or more visible campaigns. In England there is a Campaign to Protect Rural England, but it isn’t particularly visible.
I’m sure there is much that each of us could do better. But even if all we do is ensure that we, personally, don’t add to the growing litter mountain, and ensure that we recycle whatever we’re able to, then we’ll be moving towards harmony with God’s will — at least in this one area. And, maybe starting in small ways, it will encourage us to become more involved in larger ways. We may even find that there is something we can contribute to the larger environmental issues that our planet is facing.
Gracious Father,
by the obedience of Jesus
you brought salvation to our wayward world:
draw us into harmony with your will,
that we may find all things restored in him,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.Additional Collect for The Fourth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council
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