John Leax is much better at writing psalms than I am, but his psalms are an inspiration to me to keep working at it—especially nature psalms. John recently retired from his post as professor of English at Houghton College in New York State. Below is John’s “Psalm III” from a collection of Five Psalms in his book Standing Ground. I think you will enjoy it.

Psalm III

Praise to you, Creator Son,
for all the creatures
of this earth too small
for any notice but your own.

With your eyes I see
the six inch snake
green as mint, soft
as a baby’s hand, curled
about my finger
and love it with your love.

With your eyes I see
the crayfish, hard
as a toenail, brown
as the mud beneath
the water’s rippled surface
and love it with your love.

With your eyes I see
the nuthatch descend
headfirst the maple trunk,
its blue-gray feathers
light against the bark
and love it with your love.

With your eyes I see
all these and more.
I see the turtle’s
painted shell,
the eft’s red body
on the crumbling leaves,
the green frog’s
leopard spots,
and the snail’s bright
trail shining
in the morning sun.

For these I give you thanks,
and for your presence
in their making and unmaking
I give you praise.

Each small life is yours!
In wonder I meet
the richness of your grace
and love you with your love.

John’s psalm reminds me of the biblical psalm of David: “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. . .  You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing” (145:9, 16). Isn’t it fascinating that David would think of all living things as having “desires”? How often do we consider the desires of the other creatures with which we share our communities: snakes, crayfish, nuthatches, and monarch caterpillars?

See you outdoors!

Dean