Daily Devotions and Podcasts

SCRIPTURE Matthew 20:17-28 (Inclusive Bible) When the other ten heard this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the nations lord it over them, and the powerful exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you. Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be the servant of all. For the Chosen One came not to be served, but to serve, and to give life for many." WORDS OF HOPE - Chemists Celebrate the Earth Day I remember taking chemistry in 10th grade, back in 2010, at McKinney Boyd High School. Most of my classmates barely glanced at the periodic table, but I was captivated. I could memorize every element, every atomic number, every symbol after just one glance. That fascination has never faded—though now my attention is shared with the stories of people I meet, the rhythms of life in the natural world, and the delicate systems that sustain all living beings. Chemistry teaches us to see the Earth anew. Every element, every reaction, every cycle is part of an intricate, interconnected system that sustains life. Sunlight sparks photosynthesis, turning energy into leaves, flowers, and fruits. Nutrients flow through soil, feeding roots, forests, and fields. Oxygen is released for every creature to breathe. The tiniest microbe, the humblest insect, the soil beneath our feet, the rivers, lakes, and oceans—each is part of a sacred network of life. This is the wonder of chemistry: it unveils the hidden threads of Creation. Life is a miracle of bonds, cycles, and balances. And everywhere in it, God is present—the divine architect behind every molecule, every forest, every drop of water, every flicker of life. God does not shy away from beauty. God revels in it. God marvels at the flowers blooming in spring, the trees swaying in summer winds, rivers alive with fish, fiery autumn leaves, and rainbows stretching across the sky after storms. God says, again and again, “It is good—no, very good.” And that goodness is everywhere: Delicate and playful: sunflower petals catching sunlight, jasmine drifting in evening air, deer leaping across meadows, squirrels scampering, rabbits hopping, otters sliding through streams, hummingbirds darting in golden rays, butterflies dancing on warm winds, ducks swimming in the lake, and cats curling in sunbeams. Fierce, wild, and majestic: tigers prowling forests, bears standing watch from mountains, eagles soaring above cliffs, wolves racing through snow, sharks gliding silently through oceans, crocodiles lurking in rivers, snakes coiling in grass, lions guarding their pride, mountain lions leaping across cliffs, octopuses exploring coral gardens, and owls gliding through moonlit nights. Strange, joyful, and curious: penguins waddling on ice, flamingos preening in shallow waters, kangaroos bounding across grasslands, armadillos shuffling, chameleons changing colors with the sun, foxes slipping between shadows, sea turtles drifting with currents, even to giraffes with their long necks reaching to eat the leaves. All of it—cute, fierce, delicate, wild, joyful, strange, playful—bears the signature of the Divine. And then there is humanity: a kaleidoscope of beauty, identity, and story. People of every skin tone, hair texture, eye color, and shape. Genders that are female, male, transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, and beyond. Pronouns—she, he, they, xe, ze, and every way we claim our identities—each an image of the Divine. Faiths of every kind—Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Indigenous spiritualities, Earth-centered paths, and countless journeys we are still discovering—each reflecting God’s boundless creativity and care. Every person, every story, every life is a reflection of God’s love. Chemistry also opens our eyes to the vast cosmos. As Crosby, Stills & Nash sang in Woodstock in 1970: "We are stardust, we are golden, We are billion-year-old carbon." We are made of star-stuff, intimately connected to the universe itself. Even within our own solar system, God’s creativity shines. There is Mercury, scorched and airless; Venus, wrapped in clouds of acid and searing heat; Earth, lush and vibrant; Mars, red and dusty; Jupiter and Saturn, swirling with storms and magnificent rings; Uranus and Neptune, distant, icy, and mysterious; and Pluto, small and far, carrying its heart-shaped feature as if the cosmos itself remembered love in its outermost reaches. Each planet, each star, each galaxy, and every black hole exists in delicate balance—too hot or too cold would disrupt the dance of life. And yet here we are, on a planet just right for life to flourish. As Goldilocks reminds us: not too hot, not too cold; not too harsh, not too mild—just right. We are connected to it all. To the soil beneath our feet, the waters that flow, the air we breathe, the stars above. And yet, this planet—Earth—is home. The one place where chemistry, balance, and love converge, creating life in all its richness. That is both a gift and a responsibility.  Jesus reminds us in Matthew 20 that greatness is not about power—it is about service. To serve others. To serve the Earth. To protect what is fragile. Caring for creation is an act of love. It is an act of faith. It is choosing to live in harmony with the systems that sustain life. Chemistry teaches us how life works. Faith calls us to care for it. So, on this Chemists Celebrate Earth Day, may we do more than observe. May we notice the beauty. May we honor the diversity of life, of people, of pronouns, of faiths. May we protect the fragile balance that sustains life. May we love more deeply. Because this Earth is not just a collection of elements. It is a living system. A sacred home. A reflection of divine creativity and care. And it is still—beautifully, vulnerably—very good. PRAYER God of Creation, thank you for all that you have imagined, and all that we are still discovering. Thank you for the elements that form our world, for the breath in our lungs, for the waters that sustain us, and for the delicate balance that makes life possible. Help us to be stewards of your love and your Creation. Teach us to care for this Earth with humility, to protect what is fragile, and to honor the beauty woven into every part of life. Remind us that we are connected— to the soil, to the stars, to one another. May we serve as you have called us to serve: with compassion, with justice, with love that reaches all people and all creation. And may we never forget that this world—so intricate, so vulnerable, so alive— is still, and always, very good. Amen. DEVOTION AUTHOR Reed Kirkman