"I played my part in popularising the idea that space was the final frontier," wrote William Shatner. "But I had to get to space to understand that Earth is, and will remain, our only home."

When we bless animals, we're echoing the divine blessing. We often forget that God not only blesses humans with the words "be fruitful and multiply".

I offer for reflection a poem penned by Dr. Sylvia Keesmaat, who teaches theology at Wycliffe College.

Paying attention to the natural world is a form of worship as we read the "book of creation".

"If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature – even a caterpillar," says Meistar Eckhart, "I would never have to prepare a sermon."

Not only do we fail to acknowledge the gifts we’re showered with, and daily, but we take creation by the neck and demand more.

The story of Moses’ call reveals to us a God who calls out to us from within our world, from the very midst of our everyday lives.

I’ve been working on a resource for small groups to use during the Season of Creation, which runs from September 1 to October 4.

God wants us to take seriously our calling as divine image-bearers, tasked with caring for the garden of creation - learning to live with, and not against, the grain.

When people are colonised – whether we’re talking about the Israelites, tangata whenua here in Aotearoa, or countless people groups throughout history – their minds are often colonised as well, creating a hostility towards their own culture.