Precious Love, Believer of all that is good,
You created a world where beauty surrounds us.
We give You thanks
For every gift brings us closer to You.
We practice gratitude: From the stunning granite peaks in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, to the home of the world’s greatest vertical drop on Mount Thor, Canada, we give thanks for the majesty of mountains.
From the wetlands teeming with wildlife and their own unique cultures, we are reminded of the love and creativity You bring to our world, Beloved. The Okavango Delta, Botswana, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa and the Asmat Swamp, Indonesia, which features gorgeous mangroves, are both visions of beauty and serenity.
You have blessed us with the wisdom of trees. We wonder what secrets these beauties hold: The Spider’s Web Tree in Nanning, Guangxi, China; The President, one of the largest Sequoia Trees in California, USA, and the Dragonblood Trees in Yemen.
The allure of caves and caverns beckon us to dwell in the mystery that You have created. The vast underground chambers of Son Doong Cave, Vietnam, offers breathtaking views of colossal stalagmites and stalactites that have been formed over millions of years. The largest ice cave in the world, Eisriesenwelt, Austria, showcases stunning ice formations sculpted by nature.
You gifted us with exquisite delicacy and vibrant color in the form of the flower. The world is filled with them, and these are but a few: the Mexican Marigold, Mexico, used in Day of the Dead celebrations for its vibrant orange and yellow hues. Germany’s national flower, the Cornflower, symbolizes hope and resilience. And the Lotus is India’s national flower, representing purity, spiritual awakening, and beauty emerging from adversity.
Stunning coral reefs are home to an array of ecosystems. Some of the most beautiful reefs in the world include The Great Barrier Reef, Australia, the largest in the world, and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Rainbow Reef, Fiji, features a kaleidoscopic of vibrant colors under the water. We are mesmerized by the glory You offer us!
The desert called early Christians to seek refuge there. Today we recognize the pristine beauty that You have laid before us. Algeria is home to the largest portion of the Sahara Desert, covering over 80 percent of the country. The terrain ranges from sand dunes to rocky plateaus. The southern third of Mongolia is consumed by the Gobi Desert, a sprawling cold desert that differs from classic sandy expanses. Here, barren steppes, rocky outcrops, and dry basins dominate the landscape.
Rainforests are the source of approximately 40 percent of the planet’s oxygen supply and help to regulate temperatures and weather patterns. All of that, and You created them with magnificent beauty! The El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico, is the home of jaw-dropping waterfalls, overgrown gulches and canyons, and several small animals that can’t be seen anywhere else on the planet. Yasuni National Park, Ecuador, is one of the most biologically diverse places in the world. It shelters more than 20 globally threatened mammal species, and is also home to some of the last indigenous peoples still living in isolation in the Amazon.
May we treasure the gifts You have bestowed upon us, honoring Your Holy Name. Amen.
Leave a Reply