By the word of the Lord the heavens were made
and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
he put the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him,
for he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
Today's Lectionary Psalm 33:6-9 NRSVue
Yesterday was World Oceans Day which brought to mind our visit to Israel in April. We ventured to the southernmost part of the country and the resort city of Eilat on the Red Sea. It's not a destination for religious tourists but it is a favourite spot for divers and snorkellers. We snorkelled twice in the Coral Beach Nature Reserve and were enchanted by the diversity of astonishingly colourful fish in and around the coral. It's described as "the most beautiful marine reserve in the world -- colorful gardens beneath the sea" and while I'm not sure this boast is accurate there was no doubt about the beauty and diversity. Still, the effects of climate change and pollution on the reefs is cause for concern.
Eilat Coral Reef
While this may not be a stop for pilgrims it was a spiritual experience for us, along with a lengthy visit to an underwater observatory where we also saw an abundance of fish. For a portion of the time we were alone in the depths of the observatory and it was akin to being in a cathedral.
The theme for World Oceans Day was Planet Ocean:Tides Are Changing. As we all know tides ebb and flow, twice a day, the miraculous inhalation and exhalation of the seas and oceans which cover a large portion of our planet.
We really have limited knowledge of what is in the depths of the oceans and a recent exploration of the Pacific revealed 5,000 previously unknown species. Yet this is an area slated for deep sea mining.
Are the tides of protection and preservation flowing in or out? We are increasingly aware that many Indigenous peoples around Turtle Island regard the ocean with reverence as well as a source of food and resources. After centuries of abuse and exploitation we really must move back toward respect and reverence
Here is a prayer from Creation Justice for World Oceans Day
An Ocean prayer (Adapted from Psalm 130)
Out of the depths We cry to you, O Lord
Lord, Hear Our voice!
From the depths of the ocean that covers this planet, We cry to you, O Lord!
Lord, Hear Our Voice!
For the health and resilience of your sacred marine sanctuaries, from tide pool to sea floor, we cry to you, O Lord!
Lord, Hear Our Voice!
For the breeding grounds of fish and the playgrounds of dolphins, we cry to you, O Lord!
Lord, Hear Our Voice!
For the safety of crab, kelp, jellyfish, and shark to make their home, we cry to you O Lord!
Lord, Hear Our Voice!
For oceans free of plastic and the things we humans deem as trash, we cry to you, O Lord!
Lord, Hear Our Voice!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you!
Our souls wait for the Lord, more than those who wait for the morning. Forgive our indifference to your creation and make us good stewards of your seas.
Hope in the Lord!
With the Lord there is steadfast love and great power to redeem. Amen.
Written by Derrick Weston, Theological Education and Training Coordinator Creation Justice
Killer whale has a vision and comes to talk to me about proximological encroachments of civilizations in the oceans Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun ~ Coast Salish, Okanagan 2010
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