Reverence for creation is defined as a profound attitude of deep respect, awe, and gratitude for the natural world and the universe.
It often reflects a spiritual, philosophical, or religious understanding that existence is a divine gift. Simply put, Reverence for Creation is loving all things natural. It calls for responsible stewardship rather than exploitation. It involves humbling oneself in recognition of something considered greater, wiser, or more sacred than individuals.
For many of our readers, this reverence for creation occurs naturally within us. Through our spiritual practice or our everyday rituals, we believe this natural world around us did not happen by accident and honor and respect what is provided.
Moments of Awe in Everyday Nature
Those who are gardeners, birders, foragers, and nature enthusiasts are often rewarded with that “awe” sensation that may overwhelm
one to tears of joy witnessing natures beauty. Through something as simple as the sun’s rays breaking through the leaves and lighting up the dew, we can begin to reflect on how blessed we are to walk this land and live within creation.
To have reverence for creation is something we all have in common, but it can be taken to a deeper level, finding love in every breath, every discovery and every season. From weeds to perennials, droughts to natural disasters, or the perfect spring day to the scorching hot summer day, to accept and be blessed with God’s love we must remain reverent. After all, reverence is not passive; it is a fierce, protective love.
Every plant and living organism holds a purpose and beauty within it, and viewing the earth merely as a resource to consume disconnects us from the web of life. Stewardship acknowledges our deep moral responsibility to the soil and all living systems.
People take care of what they know. And it is never too late to want to know more.
Indigenous Wisdom and Sacred Relationship
To understand true reverence, we must also look to the original caretakers. For generations, the Ioway, the Sauk, the Fox, and the Potawatomi lived in harmony with the Tallgrass ecosystem. They understood that humans do not own the earth. We belong to it. In this sacred approach, decisions were made with seven generations in mind.
Today, that prairie has been nearly erased, replaced by an industrialized landscape that views the Earth with an ownership mindset. We have forgotten how to coexist with the world, claim kinship with the Earth and foster a spiritual connection with the land. We must commit ourselves to listen to the voices of the land where we live and which is in our care.
Healing Our Relationship with Creation
On a community level, we can practice reverence in our own backyards. We can transform manicured church lawns into thriving sanctuaries of native milkweed and wild indigo to feed declining pollinators. We can support local, regenerative farmers who fight to heal the soil microbiome rather than poison it. We can return our food scraps to the earth through community composting, closing the sacred loop of life, death, and rebirth. Soil is not dead dirt. It is a breathing, living skin teeming with billions of organisms that deserve our protection.
Every breath of crisp morning air, every drop of water from our limestone aquifers, and every nutrient that sustains our bodies is a direct gift from the creation. The earth does not need humans, but we utterly depend on her mercy. By restoring a sense of sacred duty to our relationship with nature, we rise up against the systems of greed that seek to exploit her. When we fiercely deepen and heal our reverence for creation, we ultimately heal ourselves.