Genesis 2:15

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

When you think of Disney World rides, Living with the Land probably isn’t the first one that comes to mind.

There are no big drops. No high speeds. No dramatic twists and turns. In our family, it’s often the ride we choose when we need to cool down, get off our feet for a while, and definitely don’t want to stand in another long line!

It is most certainly not a thrill ride.

But if we pay attention, there’s actually quite a lot to learn.

The gentle boat ride takes us through different ecosystems before entering greenhouses filled with fruits, vegetables, and other plants. Along the way, we see examples of creative and innovative ways to grow food while using resources wisely.

In some ways, Living with the Land invites us to notice something we can easily take for granted:

The earth is an extraordinary gift.

Long before sustainability became part of our vocabulary, Genesis tells us that God placed humanity in the garden with a purpose: “to work it and take care of it.”

Creation was never simply ours to use however we wanted. It was entrusted to our care.

We are gardeners. Caretakers. Stewards of something that ultimately belongs to God.

And perhaps caring for creation begins not with doing something enormous, but simply with paying attention.

Notice the tree providing shade on a hot afternoon.
Taste the tomato fresh from the garden.
Listen to the birds in the morning.
Watch something grow.
Consider what you consume and what you waste.

When we slow down enough to notice creation, gratitude begins to grow. And gratitude has a way of leading us toward care.

Maybe there’s a spiritual lesson hidden in this quiet little boat ride.

Not everything that changes us has to be dramatic.

Sometimes we need to slow down, get off our feet, and pay attention to what has been right in front of us all along.

God has given us a beautiful world.

And God has also given us the responsibility—and privilege—of helping to tend it.

Pause & Reflect

Take a moment to notice the creation around you today.

What part of God’s creation are you especially grateful for?

Where have you become so accustomed to the natural world that you no longer really notice it?

And consider:

What is one small way you can help tend and care for what God has entrusted to us?

Maybe today you use a little less.
Waste a little less.
Plant something.
Pick up something someone else left behind.
Or simply step outside and give thanks.

Small acts of tending matter.

Prayer

Creator God,
you formed this beautiful world
and called it good.

Thank you for soil and water,
sunlight and shade,
plants that grow,
food that nourishes,
and the countless wonders of creation
we so easily overlook.

Teach us to receive the earth as a gift
and to remember that it has been entrusted to our care.

Help us slow down enough to notice,
be grateful enough to cherish,
and love deeply enough to tend
what you have placed in our hands.

May the way we care for creation
become one more way
we express our love for you.

Amen.

Copyright © 2026 Ronda Welander