In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

I’m at Boy Scout Summer Camp this week. We’re camping outside in tents, hiking short distances to the dining hall (which is not air conditioned), and learning many different skills while going without technology. Well, the boys are, I am sitting in the air conditioned Scoutmaster’s Lodge with air condition and wifi.

This week isn’t about me. It’s about the boys. Hopefully, they will come from this camp having learned something new that they will be able to use their whole life. Something that will make them better men, better husbands, and better fathers. Me, I get to sit back and try to guide them on the journey.

Today, I tried to get them to tell me one thing they liked so far. They’re teens, so there wasn’t much of a response. It was more of a mom question than a Scoutmaster question. I can’t hope for too much.

I can say that there are several things I like so far, but I won’t tell you all of them. I will tell you about one. We came a day early because we drove a long distance; almost 7 hours. Once we set up camp, we had to go to the closest town to eat dinner. On the way there, we came around a curve and saw something so beautiful there was an audible gasp from almost everyone. We had to pull over and take pictures.

I am reminded that God created this. In the first chapter of Genesis, we read that God created the land on the third day. It says, “Then God said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so.” (Genesis 1:9 HCSB) God didn’t stop there. He continued by adding plants fruit trees. He says that it was good.

One look at the picture my son took for me and you can’t help agreeing with God. The beauty of the Earth is good. More than good. It’s beautiful.

Thank You, Lord, for the beautiful creation we live in. Help us to take care of it so it can be appreciated for generations to come.