Swampfront Property

God saw all that [God] had made, and indeed, it was very good. – Genesis 1:31 (NRSV) 

My aunt and uncle’s land in southwest Michigan is made up of wild forest and green wetlands. As a kid, I loved visiting my family, but their swamps terrified me.  

Swamps like theirs looked dense and eerie. There was a feeling that a creature would emerge. From the Black Lagoon? One of Scooby-Doo’s many swamp monsters? Something lurked in that thick green muck, and it was unsettling to get close. Instead, I longed to play in the clear water of picture-perfect ocean waves.  

Now I understand that my uncle is a devoted steward of Michigan’s swamps and an activist for wetland preservation. I’ve learned that these vital bodies of water provide healthy ecosystems, erosion control, and robust habitats. They contribute to the essential nutrient cycling of our rivers, lakes, and streams. No monsters involved; the swampfront is holy ground for me now.  

In the beginning, God called each part of Creation good as it was formed out of the void and the muck. I think God has an affinity for the strange and unknown. We see it in the stories of Jesus who touched the skin of the marginalized, smeared mud on the eyes of the estranged, and invited the despised to dinner. Jesus loved showing us how even murky and mysterious people contribute to the essential health that flows through God’s beloved community.  

Now that I think of it, if there were swamp creatures, Jesus would love breaking bread with them—toes in the algae, butts on the moss. So very good. What’s there to be afraid of? 

Prayer
Creator of swamps and oceans, release us from our fear of the unknown, and show us the places where goodness is lurking today. Amen.

About the Author
Joanna D’Agostino is the Senior Pastor at Lakewood Congregational Church in Lakewood, Ohio.