Not safe
The stunning beauty of the beach with warm sunshine glistening on the gentle waves bordered by lush grass and a well-kept promenade looked so inviting. However, warning signs stated swimming was prohibited due to contamination from the town’s water overflow system. Getting closer to the sea the faint whiff of sulphur was more than enough to confirm this wasn’t a good place to swim. Such a pity.
There are so many reminders around us that much of what was made beautiful and accessible is slowly becoming polluted and spoilt by anything from failing human engineering to wilful neglect or disregard.
The story of creation in Genesis reminds us that God made everything good and beautiful, and entrusted the world’s wonder and resources to the care of humankind. Today we share the responsibility to preserve the splendour of the world and to act with skill and wisdom in managing the resources around us.
As we continue to enjoy unseasonably warm weather let’s listen and respond to the needs of this wonderful and fragile home we call Earth. Whether we can swim in the sea or not.
Some words from Psalm 8:
You made humankind rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!