The Best Way to Love God

Scripture calls us to “love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). However, as John Valtners Paintner notes, “One cannot be truly dedicated to the Creator without being dedicated to the Creation.” This Thanksgiving, people throughout the United States will be giving thanks for the animals and plants that provide food for us. Giving thanks is a good beginning. However, we who say we are dedicated to God need to safeguard the work of God’s hands by protecting creation from harm and by honoring the wisdom of God that is embedded in creation.

Of course, humans are part of God’s creation. The idea that our dedication to God is linked with our dedication to creation is reflected in the post-resurrection exchange between Christ and Peter: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” How much more directly can we be told that loving God requires taking care of others?

Being dedicated to feeding others can feel like an enormous task. However, as the Talmud instructs, “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly now. Love mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” We can’t single-handedly save all of creation, but we can plant trees and fight for clean water in our own community. We can’t feed everyone, but we can feed those we directly encounter who are hungry. God provides enough bounty for all; our task is to assist in the distribution. This Thanksgiving, may our love of God expand our hearts to encompass love of God’s creation, in whatever way we encounter it.