Living with Cosmic Conscience: Embracing Creation’s Beauty

The Universe as a Divine Poem

When we sit on our porch in Detroit and feel the cool breeze, or watch a butterfly flutter by, what are we really seeing? Is it just air molecules and a tiny insect, or something more? For us as Secular Franciscans, our hearts tell us it’s something infinitely more profound.

Science often describes the world in a beautiful yet impersonal way. It talks about physics, chemistry, and biology. Yet, our faith reminds us that behind all the laws and all the atoms is a profound and loving presence. This isn’t a new idea; it’s the very heart of the Franciscan way.

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Beyond a Creator, to a Presence

For our founder, St. Francis of Assisi, God wasn’t just a powerful being far away in the heavens. God was intimately present in every part of creation. St. Francis didn’t just see the sun as a star; he called it “Brother Sun.” He didn’t just see water as H₂O; he called it “Sister Water,” for its beauty and utility.

This is because the universe is not just a creation, but a divine poem. A poem isn’t just words on a page; it’s a window into the mind and heart of the poet. In the same way, the universe isn’t just matter and energy. It’s a profound and beautiful expression of God’s wisdom, love, and divine conscience.

This is a simple truth that anyone can grasp, yet it is so profound. It asks us to look at a cloud, a tree, or even our spouse, Kathleen, and see not just what they are, but whose they are.

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Living with a Cosmic Conscience

If the universe is a reflection of a divine conscience, then our own conscience is a spark of that same light. Our inner voice that tells us to do good and to love isn’t just a random feeling. It’s a small part of God’s own self-awareness that resides within us.

This understanding directly connects to our Franciscan life. Caring for creation isn’t just a “green” initiative; it’s a sacred duty. It’s about honoring the divine reality present in all things, just as we would praise God Himself. To harm creation is to harm the very expression of God’s goodness.

So, let’s go out and live with a cosmic conscience. Let’s pause to truly see the world around us. Let’s find God in the everyday, in the small moments of wonder and in the simple, loving acts we perform for one another. It’s in this that we honor the divine poem and live out our call as brothers and sisters of St. Francis.