When God explained the covenant with Noah, God said that the rainbow "in the clouds" (that is, in the storm) would remind God of "living creatures." Like a physician remembering that patients are people, not cases or diseases, God would remember humanity. Like a veterinary remembering that pets are someone's family members, not just another dog or cat, God would remember all living animals. Like a pastor caring for individuals by name, not categories or statistics, God would remember frail flesh.

As we prepare to celebrate Earth Day 2008: Something We Can All Believe In, perhaps it's time for us to remember that "rainbow in the clouds" and recall that just like God, we should remember all life and living creatures. Like a physician remembering patients are people, we should remember that the Earth is a home to more than 6 billion of us and to tread lightly. Like a veterinary remembering that pets are someone's family members, we should remember that all living creatures are part of God's family. As a pastor caring for individuals, we should remember to be good stewards of all that's given to us and care for the Earth. We should remember plants, penguins, polar bears and people too, all deserving of life and a place on this Earth we call home.

Those who portray God as giving humans the authority to abuse and misuse the Earth, need to consider that God's promise is to remember living creatures. Jesus reminded us to consider the lilies and Isaiah the prophet told us that the mountains and hills will break forth in glory and  that the trees of the fields shall clap their hands.

Those who portray God as caring about religious protocol and doctrine need to remember that God's promise is to remember humanity and living creatures. That means names, identities, stories, needs, oddities, failings, beasts, nature, life can be used to understand God. The amazing character of creation inspires awe, humility and curiosity. Creation's mystery sparks a yearning for the source of creation.

God created and loved everything that is, even that which we find inedible and intolerable. Genesis 1 says we are parts of a whole that God created for goodness. Every once in a while, we get it right. But even when we don't, Sabbath comes, and we can rest, along with God, and then all try again.

As we celebrate Earth Day 2008, let's consider God's covenant of the rainbow and remember all living creatures as part of God's family.