GOD'S SPIRIT DWELLS WITHIN

Look at the animals roaming the forest: God’s spirit dwells within them.
Look at the birds flying across the sky: God’s spirit dwells within them.
Look at the tiny insects crawling in the grass: God’s spirit dwells within them.
Look at the fish in the river and sea: God’s sprit dwells within them.

There is no creature on earth in whom God is absent….When God pronounced that His creation was good it was not only that his hand had fashioned every creature; it was that His breath had brought every creature to life. Look too at the great trees of the forest; look at the wildflowers and the grass in the fields; look even at your crops. God’s spirit is present within all plants as well. The presence of God’s spirit in all living things is what makes them beautiful; and if we look with God’s eyes nothing on the earth is ugly.

From a letter by the British religious teacher (and accused heretic) Pelagius to an unnamed friend found in Listening for the Heartbeat of God by John Philip Newell. It is said that he also taught that since God is present in all Creation if we were to follow Jesus’ instruction to love our neighbors and ourselves we would have to love all of Creation as well.

I’m trying to imagine what such a world would be like. I can see the glimmer on the other side of the hill. But, when I get there, it turns out that the glimmer is behind another hill.