It's one of those days. I am sitting in front of the monitor, a blank page staring at me, my fingers on the keyboard ready to tap those keys, but my mind is blank.

As my eyes wander towards the window to my right, it is dark outside, and the night is slowly approaching like a black mantle strewn across the sky. The television is entertaining my husband in the living room, and because his hearing is not that good any more, loud voices interrupt my thoughts. I can't seem to concentrate or get inspired as to what to write.

Sometimes, the Holy Spirit grants inspiration and the stories flow abundantly, but at other times they are not forthcoming, and writing is almost like pulling teeth. At times like these, I say a quick prayer for the Holy Spirit's inspiration, to bring something out of nothing.

Did you ever lie down on the grass, look up towards the sky, and watch clouds forming from nothing into various shapes of animals, and so on? I have, many years ago. I remember looking at a cloud formation and seeing a rabbit, a dog with a bone in its mouth, and a small child chasing a ball.

Have you listened to the waves as they caress the shore, and watched a beautiful sunset in the distance? Or did you ever sit outside in your favourite chair on a warm summer's night, gaze up to the heavens, and behold a starry night? I can't even imagine how many trillions upon trillions of stars sparkle towards the earth. Looking long enough, one may even see a meteorite streak across the night sky.

As I thought about these things, I remembered that God created the sky, the clouds, and the stars for His glory and our enjoyment.

Genesis 1:2-3 – The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. (NLT)

Just like words written onto pieces of paper, God spoke, and this world and the universe were created into existence out of nothing.

Genesis 1:4-5 – And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day" and the darkness "night." And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. (NLT)

Today, as we look at our communities and the world that God created for us to take care of, we see oil spills, refugees, homelessness, undrinkable water, hunger, sickness, and hatred towards our fellow human beings. Let us do something. We can help clean up the environment; we can donate food to our food banks, and volunteer to help out in shelters; we can donate financially towards clean drinking water in various parts of the world; doctors and nurses can volunteer time to help those who are sick; but most of all, all of us can show our love towards our fellow human beings.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for creating this wonderful world in which we live. But we have squandered and ruined the world because of power and greed. Give us the strength and courage to correct what is in our power to change. Guide us to do something rather than nothing. Amen.

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About the author:

Rosemary Hagedorn <rosyhagedorn@gmail.com>
Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada
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