What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations Psalm 104:24 (The Message)
My wife and I recently returned from a trip to the Black Hills area of South Dakota. The trip was great! We saw the amazing “Badlands” area, Mt. Rushmore, Devil’s Tower, the Crazy Horse monument, and many other great wonders of the west. The topography of this area is a testament to the wonders of Nature. Forces like erosion and complicated geological upheavals have produced wonders and spectacles.
We were reminded not only of the amazing hand of God’s creation, but also of an American history that deprived Native Peoples of land, heritage and culture. Manifest Destiny was the concept that God had ordained White culture to take the entire continent and secure it for Christian management and order.
I won’t blame our ancestors for such thought. Indeed, had I lived then, I don’t doubt that I would have subscribed to that same “tribal” theory in the name of God. Yet, as we reflect, we see that our nature can dictate theories that we can claim as God-ordained, when in reality such theories were serving only our interests, and not that of other people.
So, my friends, let’s reflect on the beauty of God’s creation, remembering that we have the power to build on it, or simply use it for selfish interests.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us for our self-interests when your interests are the ones we should be uplifting, Amen.
Reflections of a Counselor 