ALL CREATION GROANS

Many of us have watched the unfolding horror in the Gulf of Mexico unfold with aching hearts. Pictures bring home just a small part of the reality of the threat and devastation. For me the picture that tore at my heart was a close up of a pelican, covered in brown oil, flailing in the water. The pelican looked panicky and desperate – or maybe I am reading into it my own feelings about this ecological nightmare.

Something about that picture of the pelican made it plain to me that God’s creation is groaning in pain and sorrow. No matter who we feel is responsible, or what we believe the answer to be – there is something elemental happening here. The soiling of good water, healthy wildlife and the widespread ruin of the “good earth” is heartbreaking.

It is right that our hearts ache for the despoiling of the earth God has made and maintains and loves. I believe that what happens in the Gulf affects us all. The more we “muck-up” our world, the harder living becomes for all. Sometimes, we can sense only a bit of that feeling of being out of kilter. Other times, like when I viewed the picture of the oil laden pelican, our hearts cry out with pain.

There are some things we can do. First, is pray. Pray for wisdom and knowledge to stop the flow of oil. Pray for those whose lives have been turned upside down by this massive spill. Hold the whole situation in the light of God’s love. We can also donate to organizations that are helping in the clean up – like those that are helping wildlife.

Another, much harder step we can take is to begin to cut our dependence on gas. That is a very hard pill for us to swallow, though. Most of us haven’t even wanted to think about this. Maybe that is one more thing for us to pray about! What should we do? What should I do?

Every week in worship we say the Lord's Prayer. Most of us have long since had it memorized. I know that with me, when I am used to saying the same thing over and over again, I can lose the depth and meaning of the words. Often another 'angle' is needed to understand words that are so familiar to us.

In the New Zealand Book of Common Worship, there is a version of the Lord's prayer that opens my eyes -- and maybe yours as well. It is, I believe, a translation from the Maori version of the Lord's Prayer, and it holds many surprises for those of us long used to the "Our Father" version. Those surprises can both enlarge and enrage us. We have grown used to saying and understanding this prayer 'our' way. But this Maori version reminds us clearly that there are other ways of understanding this prayer.

Try it - tell me what you think!

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life giver,

Source of all that is and that shall be,

Father and mother of us all,

Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth!

In time of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trials too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For your reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.