Wild

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” - Genesis 1:27-28

I drove past a fence that was being swallowed alive by the hedge planted behind it. The log fence was still visible, but only as the fingers of a desperate wooden hand attempting to hold back a semi-solid substance. Shrubbery oozed from every open space between the splintering digits.

Nature is like that. It’s wild, and left ungoverned it oozes out into an impenetrable tangled riot. At creation God pronounced nature “good,” but never did God call it “tame.”

The first humans were mandated by God to take dominion, to reign, over the exuberant wildness of creation - a cacophony that God called “good.” In a perfect world, a shalom world, the act of creating order out of all that good, wild nature would bring satisfaction and joy. The rebellion of humans against God’s good and perfect ways just made it harder…frustratingly so. What was meant to bring life became a chore.

But anyone who has ever weeded a garden or artfully manicured a hedge or swept a sidewalk or trained a puppy or put the insides of a house to rights has sensed the echo of God’s original intent. Calm. Satisfaction. Accomplishment. Joy.

Governor of my soul, Today take this tangled riot that is my life and bring your order. Take joy in your work, Lord, as you center me once again and set my inner being to rights. I do not ask that you tame the world, but that you draw me into your calm in the midst of it. And, in turn, remind me as I seek to govern the wildness around me that I am your agent in this wild world. Make me an instrument of your shalom.