Earth Day–It’s All About You
Earth Day was April 22nd. I think our home planet, Earth, is a good thing to honor–especially compared to some of the other things we remember or commemorate. In my replica edition of the first Encyclopedia Britannica, published in 1771, it states a scientific fact about Earth and the Universe, in an interesting way:
“Astronomy discovers to us such an inconceivable number of suns, systems and worlds, dispersed though boundless space, that if our sun, with all the planets, moons and comets belonging to it, were annihilated, they would be no more missed by an eye that could take in the whole creation than a grain of sand from the seashore. The space they possess being comparatively so small that it would scarce be a sensible blank in the universe.”
You can see an interesting, short animation about where Earth fits into the solar system and where the solar sytem fits into the Milky Way galaxy and where that galaxy fits into the Universe, here.
Another fact: On Earth there are over six billion people and two million identified species of life (with probably another twenty million species not yet identified.) So, you are on a planet with billions of living things—among them six billion people. Our planet is a dot in our solar system, which is a dot in our galaxy, which is less than a dot in the universe.
An experiment: Think about your life and the people you love. Think about the best things that have happened to you and smile as you remember some of those things. If you could make a video of you in space and time you would see this: Infinite Universe, zooming closer to show billions of galaxies, zooming closer to show the Milky Way, zooming into our solar system, zooming to the surface of Earth, zooming to your country, then your state, then your city, then your part of the city, then your location, then to you as you smile and think about the people and events that mean the most to you.
In all of the Universe, your life is important and you matter–not only for your own sake but because of what you can bring to the lives of others on this dot in the Cosmos. When you celebrate Earth you celebrate you, too.
I can always depend upon you for a unique viewpoint!
Psalm 24:1 came to my mind: “The Earth is the LORD’S and the fullness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein.” That is reason enough for me to care for this planet and try to be a steward of it.
Comment by Don R. | April 23, 2010
What an inspiring way to think about the Universe, the Earth and ME! Thank you!
Comment by P.A,H. | April 24, 2010
Hello! I am requesting any information you have on church security. Your name was given by every speaker at a conference in Des Moines last week, so I’m sure you’ll get many requests.
Also, I wanted to say that to someone like me who came from a family of farmers for over a hundred and seventy years, this old planet is special and so is my family’s five hundred acres (small by Iowa standards). Every farmer I know is making Conservation and Renewable Farming personal. I wish more shoppers were aware of what it costs to get food to them while doing it in a way that doesn’t destroy the future of the farm (water, soil, livestock, natural pollinators, etc.)
Everyone who eats ought to visit farmland and livestock areas and get to understand them. It costs a fortune to keep those areas from hurting the environment but if we don’t spend that fortune we won’t have any crops or animals anyway and we’ll also have ruined the ground water, rivers and air for humans. It’s the only Earth we have, and I think God expects us to take care of it while we’re using it. Most farmers I know take that very seriously. I wish more industries did, because my personal feeling is that since they don’t see the harm they cause, they ignore it or buy their way out of penalities.
You might like to look at one of my favorite websites,
http://www.iowafarmertoday.com/.
Thank you also for your ministry to churches. Best regards, B.H.
Comment by Bill Hayhurst | April 24, 2010
I was looking for something different about Earth Day and this is sure it! Very interesting! You have a great site! Sierra N.
Lincoln PTA
Cupertino, CA
Comment by S.N. | April 24, 2010
I’m intrigued by your quote from the replica Encyclopedia. I guess I didn’t realize how much was known about the Universe and Earth back then. As always, good reading and thought provoking. M.
Comment by Morey | April 26, 2010
Lovely! Thank you for this new look at a universal truth.
Comment by R.K. | April 27, 2010
I knew it all revolved around me!! I would like to read some more about the encyclopedia…there must be some interesting things in it.
Comment by Lister201 | April 27, 2010