God looked at everything God made,
and God found it to be very good.
Genesis 3:31
While flipping through the stations on our TV, I saw that I’d just missed a travel show which featured Israel. “What a bummer!” I told myself. Rather than allowing disappointment to set in, I pulled out the photo album which chronicles my husband’s and my visit there.
I still can’t get over the emotions which welled up within me as I walked through Nazareth and Capernaum and Magdala. Jerusalem took my breath away once again as I poured over those photographs. While in Israel, I walked through so many precious places. While taking in each one, I came to realize that I’d returned to my roots, actually, to all of our roots! In the Holy Land, I caught a glimpse of God’s handiwork. Every building and hillside, desert and mountainside drew me in. Every face invited me to wonder how many of those I met could trace their family trees back to the families of Joseph or Mary. Whether or not that was possible, I know that we can all trace our roots back to God.
Whether creation occurred within seven days or as a result of The Big Bang, God started it all. God started us all. Seeing ancient ruins which date back to Jesus’ day and beforehand, I couldn’t help being awestruck. What amazed me even more is that God continues to look carefully upon us, each and every one of us. With every glance in our directions, God finds even more which is very good.
Loving God, help me to realize how much you value each one of us and help me to love my neighbors as you do.
©2021 Mary Penich – All Rights Reserved