by Beryl Singleton Bissell
Member since:
October 4, 2005

Have you ever considered this?

April 22, 2012 07:22 PM UTC (Updated: April 23, 2012 04:02 PM UTC)
views: 0 | 9 people recommend this | comments: 43

"In a proper Christian understanding of things, the earth is not just a stage for human beings . . . with no value in itself apart from us. Like humanity, it too is God's work of art, God's child."

This morning, Father Ron Rolheiser's blog post struck me with wonder. It was a moment of grace. The earth as God's child! Why had this thought never occurred to me? I knew earth was God's precious creation and loved it as such. I sometimes thought of her as St. Francis did, as Sister Earth. Why then, had I never considered her a "child of God." It is, as Rolheiser claims, "destined to share eternity with us."

Which makes me wonder if you've ever thought of earth as a child of God?

Comments: 43

Anita D. Apr 22, 2012, 7:30pm UTC
Only when I think of earth in relation to pagan and new age religions.

Also as source for quieting my mind or relaxing.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 22, 2012, 9:58pm UTC
Yes. It is a quieting image. The earth resting in God's "hands."
Kathryn Flynn Apr 22, 2012, 7:42pm UTC
It is a beautiful thought, Beryl.
Juan J Martinez Apr 22, 2012, 7:44pm UTC
I see God in the wings of a bird, in the colors of a sunset, in the white foam of an ocean's wave. God is everywhere, all we have to do is open our eyes.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 22, 2012, 10:00pm UTC
Yes. And we are filled with gratitude, which has been called the most perfect prayer.
Cathy J. Apr 22, 2012, 7:55pm UTC
I don't think of the earth as a "child" so much because it is too human a term. His canvas where He applies shades and hues of Himself yes.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 22, 2012, 10:03pm UTC
Yes. I suppose one could say it's anthropomorphic, something we are told should not be applied to animals, but we do it anyway. It's a reference most can understand.
elizabeth evans Apr 22, 2012, 8:00pm UTC
I actually never did, Beryl....what an energizing idea.


Thanks for sharing with Triple Name Club.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 22, 2012, 10:05pm UTC
Hello Lady Bess. Delighted to hear from you.
Lainie F. Apr 22, 2012, 8:36pm UTC
As a parent caresses a newborn, the whole world is "in His hands" and thus--it too is His child.
Lainie F. Apr 22, 2012, 8:40pm UTC
I suppose belief always lives in the idea that the earth is an 'off spring' of God's unimaginable power and strength,yet seeing it as his'child' is a lovely image that creates a greater sense of security and peace. Thanks for the 'teaching moment'
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 22, 2012, 10:07pm UTC
Somehow, thinking of the earth as God's child felt like an embrace.
Tonia, who hugs trees G. Apr 22, 2012, 9:09pm UTC
That concept really does make me smile.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 22, 2012, 10:08pm UTC
Ah, your beautiful smile Tonia. How's the reading going?
Kathryn Flynn Apr 22, 2012, 9:20pm UTC
Your article is on the most recommended list, Beryl. To see the most recommended list, when you publish or edit, under options you will see a list:

most popular (default)
most discussed
most recommended. You can click Most Recommended.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 22, 2012, 10:11pm UTC
I didn't know that. That means I can read the most recommended? I can't imagine it meaning we can "most recommend" ourselves. :-)
Kathryn Flynn Apr 22, 2012, 11:06pm UTC
It started in 2010. You have 'Popular Topics on Gather' to your right. This only means the topics that are on Skyword, the content-writing channel of Gather. Gather actually rebranded itself into Skyward, Inc. in Dec. 2010. We are on the Gather.com site and the Skyword topics, celebs, entertainment, news, politics, are on the Skyword side. Both are hosted on the same servers from Boston. Skyword hires freelance writers and pays them based on views. We here on the Gather.com side write and post what we want. We get paid in points.

So, when you go into edit mode or re-edit mode,. you can change your optiions. it is slightly before 'Who can view this?' Where you select groups.

You can change it at any time. We cannot recommend our own post, but other people recommend it. After a post reaches a certain number of recommends (depending on various factors), it will be on the Most Recommended on Gather.
Kathryn Flynn Apr 22, 2012, 11:07pm UTC
To read the most recommended, you can get there from anyone who selects 'Most recommended.' I always select Most Recommended. You can pull up any one of my articles (you don't need to read them) but when you look to the right of the article frame, you'll see what's most recommended. Some are great; others might not be.
Susan Budig - Mindful Poet Apr 23, 2012, 12:15am UTC
Great info, KEO. I wish I'd get more recommended on my Mindful Poetry Contest posts. I get a good # of views considering, but less than 10% usually click recommend. :-/
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 23, 2012, 10:48am UTC
Fascinating update Kathryn. I knew nothing about Skyward until now or all these options. Thanks for keeping up with everything!
Kathryn Flynn Apr 23, 2012, 2:55pm UTC
Susan, I will make sure I recommend more of them. I am really busy these days, but I can always take some time out to recommend, even if I don't have time to comment.

Skyword posts are viewed on the orange gather to the left of your my gather.
Kathryn Flynn Apr 23, 2012, 2:58pm UTC
Beryl, your article is second from the top (3rd down) on most recommended. Posts disappear from most lists after 24 hours after publication.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 23, 2012, 4:04pm UTC
Aha. I finally did this and can see it. Thanks for your mentoring Kathryn.
libramoon .. Apr 22, 2012, 9:24pm UTC
Eureka!
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 22, 2012, 10:12pm UTC
Looks like you're on a lake as well libramoon. And we are both Libras. I guess.
John Doyle Apr 22, 2012, 11:13pm UTC
Perhaps it started to go wrong in Genesis when man was commanded to subcue the earth and master it.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 23, 2012, 10:49am UTC
Yes. And I wonder if that might not be a translation glitch and that it should read, care for the earth.
John Doyle Apr 23, 2012, 11:04am UTC
I think the glitch is in the mind of the translator. Too long have people focused on exploitation rather than stewardship
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 23, 2012, 11:40am UTC
Exactly!
Len Maxwell Apr 23, 2012, 12:00am UTC
What a wonderful idea and question. I can see that many are now focused on this.

Thanks for sharing with Gather’s Luminous Writers & Artists where it's now featured.
Spot on, Len!
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 23, 2012, 10:50am UTC
I have to thank Birdie for introducing me to Luminous Writers and Artists. She posted one article to this group alone!
Kathryn Flynn Apr 23, 2012, 12:22am UTC


Featured in Prayers in the Triple Name Club.
There is nothing outside of the loving God. The Creator is everywhere and everywhen; and love is the life force.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 23, 2012, 10:52am UTC
Yes. I don't believe that anything God creates is ever doomed to extinction, or hell for that matter. How could a loving parent ever doom one of his beloved children to such a place?
Beryl, hell is a flight of fevered madness, as is the very concept of a loving-hating god. God is sane and unconditionally loving.
Kerry Dexter Apr 23, 2012, 10:51am UTC
A friend of mine once took courses for her master's degree in a subject called Christological ecology, not a term I'd encountered before that. we had interesting discussions on the subject, on the varied aspects of stewardship and partnership with regard to theological understandings of our relationship to the earth. not sure I'd go with child, either, though I take the point that it could be a useful way into the idea.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 23, 2012, 11:18am UTC
Teilhard de Chardin did some extraordinary work on Christ and cosmology.
Ann Marcaida Apr 23, 2012, 12:31pm UTC
What a great Earth Day sermon. Would you consider sending this to Examining Our Religion?

Thanks for sharing with Gather's Luminous Writers and Artists.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 23, 2012, 4:51pm UTC
I just posted it to the group Ann. Thanks for asking.
Ann Marcaida Apr 24, 2012, 1:18pm UTC
Now featured at Examining Our Religion.
Vaughan Jones Apr 25, 2012, 8:47am UTC
In Jesus' gospel to the Essenes, not included in the New Testament of the bible, Jesus asked the people why they wonder they are sick. He then told them that it is because they have no regard for their Mother God. Astonished, they asked Him who their Mother God is, and he told them it is the one where-from they were created and to whom their bodies will return when they die; Mother Earth.
Blessings from ONE Life-Love-Energy
Beryl Singleton Bissell Apr 25, 2012, 11:55am UTC
Thanks for this lovely insight Vaughan

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