I love fall. The stunning brilliance of leaves changing is more rock-solid evidence that God is the master designer with the perfect touch. The trees in our part of the state are approaching their peak colors and they are simply breathtaking.
Someone once asked a group of us if we'd rather have the leaves this way year round---most of us said no. There's something about the first turning leaf---the slow unfolding of the palette of colors in your neighborhood. There's a tree across the street that always goes early and I wait for it every single year to signal the start of fall.
Isn't it amazing the way God placed this planet a just the right distance from the sun? While it originally didn't tilt on an axis, He did arrange for it to wobble back and forth so that we have a mix of winter-spring-summer-fall. I'd really miss the change of seasons if I lived somewhere else---and yes, I'll say now that I do enjoy winter (ask me again in February).
This is what we enjoy so you can imagine what God enjoys. All it takes for me is a couple images of a whirling galaxy to inspire. God sees that every day and knows all the stars by name. Seeing that there are hundreds of billions of galaxies, that is more cause to know God is more than some stern uncle figure in heaven watching us. He's not some just-slightly-more-advanced-than-us-super-being who kind of/sort of figured out how to hatch some science experiment here.
I guess where I'm going is that with all of the natural beauty of this world---the waterfalls, sunsets, mountain tops, forest canopies, gorges, lichen, bears, wheat fields, and....everything else---something tells me that God is saying, "Children. This is nothing compared to the wonders I've created to enjoy".
We're in that wonders category. He made us to reflect Himself and even though we don't often enough, He still loves us enough to turn those leaves and raise those mountains and crash those waves.
What a gift. What a glimpse. What a thing to be excited to experience on that day when we see Him face to face.
Luke 2:16-20
9 hours ago
2 comments:
The reference to God as "master designer" reminded me of some music I haven't listened to in a while. Somewhere in my CD collection, also possibly in my stack of cassettes that I haven't tossed even though I haven't played any for years, and on my Zune, is an "album" entitled "The Painter" by John Michael Talbot and Terry Talbot. You can find the album on Amzaon, with digital downloads of each track here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000SZEU7G/ref=dm_sp_alb and the CD is regularly available on ebay for a reasonable price.
Several songs in particular "Paint My Life" and "The Mystery" really focus on the concept of God working with us as an "Empty Canvas" (the last song on the album). The entire album is a wonderful listen during a contemplative session. I think my favorite is "Behold Now the Kingdom", a telling of the beattitudes, although "Create In Me a Clean Heart" is a close second.
The album is clean and crisp, with some haunting melodies and harmonies. If you don't own it, you should. Don't be put off by the album/cd art, which looks a little dated...the music is timeless!
Thanks Danny for reminding me to go listen to this great music more often!
I think there's something very connecting about nature...it's a place many can feel spiritually renewed (including myself). And maybe that's connecting the inner Spirit within us, to the Spirit of this earth...a glimpse of heaven...perhaps....
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