Last month, as the temperatures cooled slightly, and the wildfire smoke eased, I ventured out on a few solo kayak trips in the local area. I enjoy the beauty of the West Kootenays, the gift of life, and the privilege I hold to have the skill, means, and desire to explore nature in this way.
Praying with every stroke of my paddle, I contemplated parts of the journey of my life. I thanked God for my parents, my daughters, the places and experiences I’ve had the privilege of experiencing.
‘Thank you God for this opportunity to be immersed in creation’
‘Thank you for the gift of nature in all its forms’
‘Thank you for this day, this life, and your presence within it’
There were numerous prayers, some deep and soulful, some somewhat superficial and self centred, as if I were the only human who had ever paddled this route, experienced this beauty, or had ever lived at all.
The faith I hold encourages me to revel in creation, to be grateful for the many gifts of life, and respond in thanksgiving through loving service to humanity, and to all of creation.
Somewhere in the midst of my recreation, my prayers, and my service, I tend to focus more on the gratitude I hold, rather than God’s generosity. I observe and respond from a first person perspective, and at times can get caught up in my personal experiences and encounters, rather than see the world from a wider lens.
Maybe that is the challenge of responding in gratitude – acknowledging the generosity of the giver. In so many ways, society and the world encourage us to give, take, share, respond as autonomous individuals. The things I give and share are mine, the things I take and respond to come from others, but are directed to me.
How exhausting the world is! Society encourages us to earn, accumulate, give, and take, all from a personal perspective. The Christian faith that I adhere to reminds me that all I have, all I encounter, all I release, all – is gift. All of life is a gift and blessing. My sin is presuming that I am due anything because of who I am, that I have ownership or right to anything at all.
God is the primary, and first actor in all things. God is creator, we are created. We are gifted due to God’s generosity, not due to our ability or to any thought that our actions give us special privilege.
God chooses us: God chooses humanity, God chooses the earth to blossom and grow. We participate in this creation; we are not the Creator. We are invited to respond to God’s choice, and to respond to God’s generosity.
As I paddle each week, I try to rejoice in the choices God has made for me, and for all creation. I rejoice in the gift of God’s love, hoping that with each stroke, I can respond in gratitude to this great love that is seen all around.
“We Rejoice to be God’s chosen”
John L. Bell, ©1999, WGWG, GIA Publications
Tune: Nettleton, American Traditional
We rejoice to be God’s chosen
not through virtue, work or skill,
but because God’s love is generous,
unconfomed to human will.
And because God’s love is restless,
like the surging of the sea,
we are pulled by heaven’s dynamic
to become, not just to be.
We rejoice to be God’s chosen,
to be gathered to God’s side,
not to build a pious ghetto
or be steeped in selfish pride;
but to celebrate the goodness
of the One who sets us free
from the smallness of our vision
to become, not just to be.
We rejoice to be God’s chosen,
to align with heaven’s intent,
to await where we are summoned
and accept where we are sent.
We rejoice to be God’s chosen
and, amidst all that we see,
to anticipate with wonder
that the best is yet to be.
