One Last Musing about Waterfalls
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise, Psalm 8
Have you been to Niagara Falls? I've been there on numerous occasions and I believe I remember something from every visit to the falls. I've got some really funny stories to write about when I can take the time to journal them. For now they will remain fixed in my mind, they will probably gain some embellishments as memory interprets their realities. Folklore is always better, don't you agree?
One memorable trip was riding out toward the falls on the Maid of the Mist. The boat had to moan and groan a great deal as we journeyed closer and closer to the powerful rushing falls of the Niagara. Majestic-- beyond measure! Powerful-- beyond description! Energizing-- beyond words! I concur with the Psalm writer. Truly awesome!
It is just about time for the weekend. I think I'll take this week's devotions about water and waterfalls and recall many wonderful life experiences. Maybe I'll even work on some embellishments!
--Ben Keckler
09.10.10
Showing posts with label Beauty of the earth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beauty of the earth. Show all posts
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Daily Devotion - Thursday, September 9
More Musings about Water
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise, Psalm 8
On Tuesday I told you about Athabasca Falls, a powerful waterfall in Alberta, Canada. As you journey north from the falls toward Jasper, Alberta there is a white water rafting business. During our holiday last year, my wife's brothers decided they would experience the white waters. (We opted for horseback riding!) Recently we got a CD of their trip. Water, water everywhere! Smiling faces indicated the great joy the trip created.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as they told of their excursion! (Personally, I thought our ride on the mountain trail was pretty majestic!) Yet, listening to their stories I could sense their water experience was more energizing than our ride on the trail horses. Their stories seemed to resonate these words: “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Today I will not ride a horse, nor will I board a raft or journey down a river. But in these few moments of devotion, I will journey with the pictures and the stories of a day spent rafting on the Athabasca River. And, I will recall the majesty of the Holy One.
--Ben Keckler
09.09.10
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise, Psalm 8
On Tuesday I told you about Athabasca Falls, a powerful waterfall in Alberta, Canada. As you journey north from the falls toward Jasper, Alberta there is a white water rafting business. During our holiday last year, my wife's brothers decided they would experience the white waters. (We opted for horseback riding!) Recently we got a CD of their trip. Water, water everywhere! Smiling faces indicated the great joy the trip created.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as they told of their excursion! (Personally, I thought our ride on the mountain trail was pretty majestic!) Yet, listening to their stories I could sense their water experience was more energizing than our ride on the trail horses. Their stories seemed to resonate these words: “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Today I will not ride a horse, nor will I board a raft or journey down a river. But in these few moments of devotion, I will journey with the pictures and the stories of a day spent rafting on the Athabasca River. And, I will recall the majesty of the Holy One.
--Ben Keckler
09.09.10
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, September 8
Water and Waterfalls – a Musing
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise, Psalm 8
Last year when we vacationed in the Canadian Rockies, we had the opportunity to journey out onto the Columbia Ice Fields. Our excursion took us very close to a three way continental divide (from that point the waters flow to the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic oceans). A glacier is huge – in order to qualify as a glacier the ice mass must be at least 100 ft. in depth, cover at least 25 acres of land and annually have measurable movement. Try to imagine standing on that much frozen, yet melting (ever so slowly) water.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as we spent time on the glacier and observed the water trickling toward a destination in one of the world's oceans. We had just received word of the birth of our grandson. I bent down on the ice, collected some glacial water and brought it home for his anticipated baptism. We recently celebrated that baptism and our grandson has now experienced his first water from another land! I won't forget either experience for quite some time, I am certain. “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Today I am in my reality. I grateful for water and its cleansing, refreshing nature. From time to time today I will allow water to cleanse my hands as I go through the work day. I will drink water to quench my thirst. I rejoice that I was able to enjoy water's sacramental splendor, last month.
--Ben Keckler
09.08.10
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise, Psalm 8
Last year when we vacationed in the Canadian Rockies, we had the opportunity to journey out onto the Columbia Ice Fields. Our excursion took us very close to a three way continental divide (from that point the waters flow to the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic oceans). A glacier is huge – in order to qualify as a glacier the ice mass must be at least 100 ft. in depth, cover at least 25 acres of land and annually have measurable movement. Try to imagine standing on that much frozen, yet melting (ever so slowly) water.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as we spent time on the glacier and observed the water trickling toward a destination in one of the world's oceans. We had just received word of the birth of our grandson. I bent down on the ice, collected some glacial water and brought it home for his anticipated baptism. We recently celebrated that baptism and our grandson has now experienced his first water from another land! I won't forget either experience for quite some time, I am certain. “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Today I am in my reality. I grateful for water and its cleansing, refreshing nature. From time to time today I will allow water to cleanse my hands as I go through the work day. I will drink water to quench my thirst. I rejoice that I was able to enjoy water's sacramental splendor, last month.
--Ben Keckler
09.08.10
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, September 7
Another Musing about Water/Waterfalls
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise, Psalm 8
Last year I was privileged to see a part of the world I’d never visited. We vacationed in the Canadian Rockies. We spent time in Glacier National Park in Montana, as well. The trip included visits to Calgary, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. We were also privileged to spend time on the Columbia Icefields. The list of experiences was and still is rather phenomenal.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as we spent time at Athabasca Falls! The passage for the falls is quite narrow, especially compared with the wide river behind it filled with the melted snows from the mountains. The scene was filled with energy as rushing water made its way through the passage to a wide river bottom below. It is as though I can still hear and feel the power of the moment months later. I concur with the ancient song of praise, “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Today I am into the daily routine of caregiving still recalling a memorable vacation from before and a long, relaxing weekend just ended. I am trusting that we can bathe patients in a waterfall of healing graces that brings them to a better place. Compassionate caregiving gives patients and families the opportunity to experience the majesty and power of God.
A prayer: Holy One, may our simple acts of caregiving bring the restoring, healing touch that patients and their families need. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
09.07.10
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise, Psalm 8
Last year I was privileged to see a part of the world I’d never visited. We vacationed in the Canadian Rockies. We spent time in Glacier National Park in Montana, as well. The trip included visits to Calgary, Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. We were also privileged to spend time on the Columbia Icefields. The list of experiences was and still is rather phenomenal.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as we spent time at Athabasca Falls! The passage for the falls is quite narrow, especially compared with the wide river behind it filled with the melted snows from the mountains. The scene was filled with energy as rushing water made its way through the passage to a wide river bottom below. It is as though I can still hear and feel the power of the moment months later. I concur with the ancient song of praise, “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Today I am into the daily routine of caregiving still recalling a memorable vacation from before and a long, relaxing weekend just ended. I am trusting that we can bathe patients in a waterfall of healing graces that brings them to a better place. Compassionate caregiving gives patients and families the opportunity to experience the majesty and power of God.
A prayer: Holy One, may our simple acts of caregiving bring the restoring, healing touch that patients and their families need. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
09.07.10
Monday, September 6, 2010
Daily Devotion - Monday, September 6
Musings about Water and Waterfalls
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise, Psalm 8
Seven years ago I was privileged to see a part of the world I’d never visited. Because of a generous gift, we vacationed in Copenhagen, Denmark and Edinburgh, Scotland. Ten additional days in between were spent cruising through Norway’s fjords. We climbed a glacier, we saw one waterfall and then another and another and another. We walked the streets within the Edinburgh Castle, visited a “Stave” church of simple design in Norway and saw the Crown Jewels of both Scotland and Denmark. The list of experiences was and still is rather phenomenal.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as we spent time on the glacier and observed the waterfalls! Hearing the rushing water make its way over the mountainside cliffs and rapidly descend in magnificent beauty to the awaiting pool (lake) beneath, I must concur with the ancient song of praise, “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Today I am in my reality. I am trusting that, even on this holiday, we can bathe our hospital patients in a waterfall of healing graces that brings them to a better place. Compassionate caregiving gives patients and families the opportunity to experience the majesty and power of God. I still remember how good it was to be away and be refreshed by the majesty of a Norwegian waterfall. It is equally wonderful to be a part of this hospital family of care giving people!
HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY!
A prayer: Holy One, may our simple acts of caregiving bring the restoring, healing touch that patients and their families need. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
09.06.10
“O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
--A song of praise, Psalm 8
Seven years ago I was privileged to see a part of the world I’d never visited. Because of a generous gift, we vacationed in Copenhagen, Denmark and Edinburgh, Scotland. Ten additional days in between were spent cruising through Norway’s fjords. We climbed a glacier, we saw one waterfall and then another and another and another. We walked the streets within the Edinburgh Castle, visited a “Stave” church of simple design in Norway and saw the Crown Jewels of both Scotland and Denmark. The list of experiences was and still is rather phenomenal.
Majestic doesn’t seem a powerful enough description for the awe I felt as we spent time on the glacier and observed the waterfalls! Hearing the rushing water make its way over the mountainside cliffs and rapidly descend in magnificent beauty to the awaiting pool (lake) beneath, I must concur with the ancient song of praise, “O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
Today I am in my reality. I am trusting that, even on this holiday, we can bathe our hospital patients in a waterfall of healing graces that brings them to a better place. Compassionate caregiving gives patients and families the opportunity to experience the majesty and power of God. I still remember how good it was to be away and be refreshed by the majesty of a Norwegian waterfall. It is equally wonderful to be a part of this hospital family of care giving people!
HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY!
A prayer: Holy One, may our simple acts of caregiving bring the restoring, healing touch that patients and their families need. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
09.06.10
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, June 2
Creation’s Beauty
“God created human beings and assigned them
to manage the earth, plants, animals, and birds.
And God saw that everything he had made was very good.”
-- From the Creation story in Genesis 1
The month of May flew by! The little seeds planted some weeks ago are now looking healthy in the ground. The perennials are, for the most part, beautiful. The tomato plants are thriving and little blossoms are hinting of better days ahead. The birds continue to thoroughly enjoy the birdseed I put in the feeders. The cat sits at the storm door, no longer looking through glass but sniffing fresh air as it comes into the house. Very good, yes, very good!
Jocele Meyer writes: “I have a dream that one-day we, too, will see all that God has created as good. We will live in such ways that word and deed are one. We will work toward that day as we farm in more sustainable ways, plant trees that purify the air, cultivate our urban gardens, and make a habit of walking short distances so fewer parking lots represent the last harvest on the land. I have a dream that humankind will more fully understand what it means to live in covenant with God.” (Earthkeepers, p. 39)
Enjoy creation’s beauty in the beginning days of this month.
--Ben Keckler
06.02.10
“God created human beings and assigned them
to manage the earth, plants, animals, and birds.
And God saw that everything he had made was very good.”
-- From the Creation story in Genesis 1
The month of May flew by! The little seeds planted some weeks ago are now looking healthy in the ground. The perennials are, for the most part, beautiful. The tomato plants are thriving and little blossoms are hinting of better days ahead. The birds continue to thoroughly enjoy the birdseed I put in the feeders. The cat sits at the storm door, no longer looking through glass but sniffing fresh air as it comes into the house. Very good, yes, very good!
Jocele Meyer writes: “I have a dream that one-day we, too, will see all that God has created as good. We will live in such ways that word and deed are one. We will work toward that day as we farm in more sustainable ways, plant trees that purify the air, cultivate our urban gardens, and make a habit of walking short distances so fewer parking lots represent the last harvest on the land. I have a dream that humankind will more fully understand what it means to live in covenant with God.” (Earthkeepers, p. 39)
Enjoy creation’s beauty in the beginning days of this month.
--Ben Keckler
06.02.10
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Daily Devotions - Wednesday, January 16
A Reminder for Winter's Snow
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it.”
--Psalm 24: 1
Watching snowflakes drift down toward the earth illuminated by a spotlight still glowing in the pre-dawn hours is truly awesome. A few years ago we visited with family in Colorado. One night we took time to visit Seven Falls in Colorado Springs. The beauty of the lighted, iced- over waterfalls took on added splendor at places where spectators could observe the water flowing underneath paper-thin ice. In the midst of wintertime there are reminders that the earth is the Lord’s.
Here is a prayer written for the United Nation’s Environmental Sabbath:
Great Spirit, give us hearts to understand;
Never to take from creation’s beauty more than we give;
Never to destroy wantonly for the furtherance of greed;
Never to deny to give our hands for the building of Earth’s beauty;
Never to take from her what we cannot use.
Give us hearts to understand
That to destroy Earth’s music is to create confusion;
That to wreck her appearance is to blind us to beauty;
That to callously pollute her fragrance is to make a house of stench;
That as we care for her she will care for us. Amen.
A prayer for today:
Creator God, thank you for the beauty of the earth and the glory of the skies. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.16.08
“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it.”
--Psalm 24: 1
Watching snowflakes drift down toward the earth illuminated by a spotlight still glowing in the pre-dawn hours is truly awesome. A few years ago we visited with family in Colorado. One night we took time to visit Seven Falls in Colorado Springs. The beauty of the lighted, iced- over waterfalls took on added splendor at places where spectators could observe the water flowing underneath paper-thin ice. In the midst of wintertime there are reminders that the earth is the Lord’s.
Here is a prayer written for the United Nation’s Environmental Sabbath:
Great Spirit, give us hearts to understand;
Never to take from creation’s beauty more than we give;
Never to destroy wantonly for the furtherance of greed;
Never to deny to give our hands for the building of Earth’s beauty;
Never to take from her what we cannot use.
Give us hearts to understand
That to destroy Earth’s music is to create confusion;
That to wreck her appearance is to blind us to beauty;
That to callously pollute her fragrance is to make a house of stench;
That as we care for her she will care for us. Amen.
A prayer for today:
Creator God, thank you for the beauty of the earth and the glory of the skies. Amen.
Ben Keckler
01.16.08
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