The Daily Office: Day 13- The Divine Game of Pinzatski

Silence for 2-5 minutes:

If your mind wanders, silently pray a simple prayer again and again, such as, "I surrender to your love" or "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me" until the Holy Spirit gives you a sense of peace and focus.

Scripture: 

Psalm 8

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2  Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings[b] and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

(Today, something a bit different to pursue as we “shelter in place.”  Enjoy!)

Reading: 

Psalm 8 is one of the most vivid Creation Psalms in the Psalter.  The Book of Psalms contains close to thirty references to creation as a picture of God's glory and majesty.   Psalm 8 looks at the awesomeness of a God who creates the heavens with but His fingers, yet calls upon humans to tend the beasts of the earth as stewards of this planet.

Today, I would like to introduce you to a sacred game that can help you grow in your understanding of God's qualities as you observe, explore, and contemplate creation.  It is called The Divine Game of Pinzatski.

Arthur and Ellen Pinzatski developed this fantastic game many years ago, while on their yearly camping trip to a beautiful lake.   The game consists of choosing a natural object and then describing to the best of your ability what characteristic of God is revealed.  For example,  a campfire might illustrate the purity of God, for God uses fire to burn what is holy, such as a sacrifice, but he also uses fire to burn up what is unholy in our lives. 

What might  God be saying to us through cloud formations or a hummingbird,  through a flower or moss on a rock?  The Psalms are full of analogies and images comparable to these.  Let your imagination run riot!

Arthur Pinzatski is a retired math and physics professor.  He can be calm and logical, but he loves the analogies of the Psalms because "Analogies get you so close, you can smell the sweat, They're warm-blooded, and they make you feel something. That's why the Bible is loaded with them when you get down to talking about God." 

I think the Apostle Paul would approve of the Divine Game of Pizatski,  for he writes in Romans 1:19-20a:

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.

Actions:

Play the Divine Game of Pizatski and share what you discover with your household and others.  Children are particularly good at this game.   It is fascinating to listen to their findings, as God speaks to them through creation.

Prayer: 

Oh Lord of creation,  You have made all things, revealing your glory and majesty.  Forgive me for not peering deeply into nature.  All of creation is crying out your praise and telling me who you are.  Give me ears to hear this glorious song.  In Jesus' name.  Amen!