The heavens tell out the glory of God, the vault of heaven reveals his handiwork.
Psalm 19.1

The beginning of this magnificent psalm rejoices in the perfection of God's creative power; the whole universe is governed by laws as perfect as the moral law entrusted to the people of Israel by the supreme prophet Moses. It is an awe-inspiring thought that we can rely on the constant flow of blessings from our Creator in the form of heat, rain and the fecundity of the earth we inhabit, so that our personal lives can continue in peace so long as we obey the moral law that governs relationships with each other and also with the soil from which we obtain our sustenance.

It may be objected at once that these universal laws not infrequently seem to go adrift, so that climatic disasters hit large areas of the world; but it should be remembered that there is a place for chance in all cosmic phenomena: our earth is also undergoing constant creation, and we have to face the fact of terrestrial instability in some areas with a hazard of earthquakes, volcanoes, floods and droughts. Nevertheless, these disasters are the exception to the rule of cosmic order. We humans have been put in a position of great importance in the scheme of our planet, having been given dominion over the whole by virtue of our enormous intellectual capacity. If our power is used adversely, not only do we destroy each other, but we also wreak terrible havoc upon our natural environment. It is not surprising that ecological issues are playing an ever more dominant role in the thinking of the rulers of the developed countries; those of the vast undeveloped areas are often still fighting for survival and abusing their natural resources accordingly.

How seldom have we the time or interest to gaze on and enjoy the creatures around us! We are usually so engaged in our own affairs that we take the natural scene for granted, and its beauty passes us by. Even if we do see, we seldom register; even if we hear, we seldom listen. Seldom do we think of nature except in the context of our own activities, so that it becomes a mere tool to use rather than a fellow creature to love. In the familiar lines of W. H. Davies' poem "Leisure":

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?

We see how much we miss when our life is spent in moneymaking and mental speculation to the detriment of our part in the natural scene. God is not far from his creation even though he has given it the freedom to develop along its own lines. When we are imprisoned in a mental realm of material ambition, we are often blind and deaf to the world around us and to God who made it all.

It is one law that controls the universe and directs humans in right personal relationships. Its ramifications are infinite. Just as the heavens tell out God's glory, so do all his smaller creatures. So sustained are they by his providence that even a sparrow cannot fall to the ground except by his leave (Matt. 10.29).

When thou makest darkness and it is night,
all the beasts of the forest come forth;
  the young lions roar for prey,
  seeking their food from God.
  When thou makest the sun rise, they slink away
    and go to rest in their lairs;
  but man comes out to his work
    and to his labours until evening. (Ps. 104.20-23)

The Psalmist ends with the hope that the Lord's glory may stand for ever, and that he may rejoice in his works. He sings to the Lord as long as he lives, and is full of praise. May this be so for us also!

Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of an agile body and a fertile mind with which to serve you and make a grateful contribution to your glorious creation.