Out in the Open Fields

Ally Neale explores how caring for God’s creation shapes her worship, work and witness.

A worship song I love has this beautiful lyric: “More than words, more than good ideas, I found Your love in the open fields”. 

Having grown up in the Sydney evangelical Christian tradition, words and good ideas have always been a big part of my faith. And don’t get me wrong, I love words and good ideas - I’m a lawyer after all, and you don’t end up in this career without being a fan of words and ideas! But what I love about that song, and that lyric in particular, is the way it speaks to how my faith also feels grounded and alive in the context of my love and care for this beautiful world God has given us.

I think many Christians can relate to the feeling of being immersed in some awe-inspiring scenery and sensing their hearts filling up with praise for God – for the power and might and magnificence of our Creator displayed in a bright pink sunset sky, the crystal blue ocean, or a soaring mountain peak.

The Bible passages in this week’s study speak to another truth – that along with His glory, the brokenness of our relationship with God also manifests in our physical environment. This can be a confronting thing to acknowledge, especially in our urban society where our day-to-day actions feel removed from our impact on the land. Our context is so different to the agricultural societies of these Old Testament stories.

But just as we can feel a closeness to God when we marvel at the beauty in our world, we must also acknowledge that damage to our environment is a consequence of human selfishness and unfaithful stewardship of our planet.

For me, enjoying and fighting for the protection of the environment are acts of worship and obedience to God. In my experience, caring for the land allows us to experience a closeness to God and His purposes for our lives – after all, it’s not a coincidence that the way God has chosen to tell His story to His people starts and ends in a garden. God’s great plan for humanity is about the restoration of our relationships with our Creator and each other, in a restored Eden where a crystal-clear river flows with the water of life, trees yield fruit, the Lord God is light, and the curse of sin is lifted (Revelation 22:1-5).

My prayer is that God’s people will know Him more through our love and care for Creation. More than words, more than good ideas, may we find His love in the starry night skies, the vivid red dirt, the ancient trees, the laughing kookaburra, and our communal vision of the restored Eden.

This reflection is from week three of our Season of Creation Bible Study Series, 'All Things New – Faith, Creation, and the Wider Story of God'. This five-week series explores how God’s work of renewal embraces all of creation. From Genesis to Revelation, discover how our faith calls us to both personal transformation and collective, hope-filled action. Download our study here -www.commongrace.org.au/season_of_creation_bible_study