Emmanuel Lutheran Church

September, 2023

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” Psalm 8:3-4

We recently returned from a camping vacation to the Finger Lakes region of the state of New York. For those of you who haven’t been there…it is simply beautiful! We drove up one side of Keuka Lake and camped on the west side of both Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. We visited the towns of Watkin’s Glen, Ithica, Seneca Falls and Geneva. Of course, there were stops at many of the local wineriesJ.

There are many beautiful waterfalls, ledges and gorges. The saying printed on many things in Ithica is “Ithica is ‘Gorges.’” The lakes are situated in small valleys so that either side of the lake has a breathtaking view of the other as the top of the hill overlooks the lake on either side. I will remember the many “wows” and “ooohs” that came from our mouths as there were no other words to describe such beauty.

We took a boat ride on Seneca Lake and the tour guide told the story of how the Finger Lakes got their name. If you look at a map, you will see a series of lakes that looks like “fingers”. Native American legend says that the Creator looked on the land with favor and reached down to bless it, leaving the imprint of his hand.

How cool is that? We may be of different cultures and faiths but together we acknowledge that creation was the work of the creator God’s fingers! Geologists would paint a different picture of glaciers advancing and receding, thus carving the lakes (as we learned on our boat ride) but still, those glaciers were the work of God’s fingers creating such beauty to be enjoyed by those who would walk these grounds in the future.

I wonder if those who live in the area see their land in the same way. Oftentimes we can take for granted what is around us all the time and eventually ignore such grandeur. The Grand Canyon is just another hole in the ground to the locals, if you know what I mean.

Is it that way with faith? It becomes such a part of us that it loses its beauty? Its majesty? Its grandeur? Its mystery? Over time, does worship become commonplace and lack the ability to transform us each week? I suspect that each and every one of us could fall into that pattern.

Don’t let your faith life be taken for granted. Recognize anew the beauty and majesty and awe of the work of the creator God’s fingers in your everyday life and express your “wows” and “ooohs” at such beauty through worship to the glory of our awesome God.

Pastor Alan