I live near the location of the highest recorded temperature on earth (according to the World Meteorological Organization). That was 134°F in 1913 in Death Valley, California.

Thankfully, I don’t live anywhere near the coldest temperature (‬‬-128.6°F), which was recorded in Vostok, Antarctica in 1983. (Although I grew up in Wisconsin which seemed about that cold when I stood outside in the morning waiting for the school bus in mid-February.)

No matter these extremes, the earth is a miraculous place. Wherever I travel, I can be sure I won’t boil to death like I would on Mercury or freeze solid like I would on the other side of Mercury.

Thanks to our atmosphere, held in place by our gravity, and our planet orbiting in the “Goldilocks Zone,” our mean surface temperature is currently around 59°F which seems pretty comfy. Without the atmosphere, it would be closer to 0°F, but the daily extremes would kill us all. (That is, if we weren’t killed by ultraviolet radiation, cosmic rays, and micrometeorites which our atmosphere also shields us from.)

While there may be billions of other planets that could potentially sustain life as we know it, none of them are anywhere near us. God created this one just for us, and it’s miraculously perfect.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭26,‬ ‭CSB)

Although earth was God’s perfect creation for us, we do have to take care of it. We can’t make a new one. God can, and has promised to do so, but I’m pretty sure we don’t deserve it.

Dear God,

Thank you for this beautiful planet with seasons and light and gravity and water and temperatures that allow your children to thrive. What a miracle! Forgive me for taking it for granted all too often. Teach me to do everything I can to love, appreciate, and care for the gift of your creation.