Seeing Creation

As you may or may not know, my blogging partner, Rob Sheppard, has another wonderful site you can find at www.natureandphotography.com.  This past week Rob wrote a delightful entry called “Finding Photos When Nature Is Filled With Stuff.”  His main advice to photographers is to “go for the details” when they find themselves looking at a scene where there’s lots of “stuff.”  I think his advice is also pertinent to those who seek to find God through His Creation.

The Bible clearly teaches that God makes Himself known through what He has made.  That’s good news but it can also be overwhelming.  If God reveals Himself in Creation where in the world do you start to look?  There’s so much to see!  Sometimes for me it is the overall scene or my surroundings that make me aware of God’s presence but at other times I find it helpful to look for the details.  This calls for a more deliberate approach to “seeing Creation.”

I was thinking about all of this yesterday when I was walking in my back yard.  This time of year things are kind of drab around here.  My initial thought was “there’s not much to see right now.”  Then I was drawn to our magnolia tree and the light reflecting off the tops of the leaves.  I drew closer and took a good look at the glossy leaves and studied the patterns that can be found on each if you look close.  I then turned a leaf over and was reminded how very different the underside of a magnolia leaf is.  It is a completely different color and not glossy at all.  Each side is different but both are beautiful.  Unfortunately, most folks would likely never take the time to turn a magnolia leaf over to see its other side.

For those desiring to see more of nature–and God’s handwriting in it–I have two words of advice.  First, slow down and look for the details.  Pay more attention to what is around you.  Draw closer.  You might even want to carry a magnifying glass or a pair of binoculars with you.  Be willing to explore more.  Exercise your curiosity.  Be adventuresome.

Second, ask God to help you see what is around you.  A friend of mine recently reminded me of a wonderful line from C. S. Lewis’ writings: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”  This is similar to words penned by the Psalmist, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”  (36:9)  I am convinced that I see more in nature, as well as God’s hand in it, because I’ve asked Him to help me see more.  I believe that God honors our desire to see Him in what He has made so don’t be afraid to ask Him, in the words of the popular hymn, to “open my eyes that I may see.”   There’s no telling what He will show you…

–Chuck

(I photographed the magnolia leaves seen above in my yard this afternoon.)

Chuck’s last entry about a little-known hymn was terrific. I had never heard of that hymn, but what wonderful words!

Poetry has long been a part of song writing. The Psalms are both poetry and songs. Though I am not much of a poetry fan, I have always loved the Psalms, especially the King James Version of them. The words, the rhythm and pattern of the words, is quite wonderful. And so much of the Psalms is about connecting with life and God outside in the world.

Recently, I found a reference to a poem by e. e. cummings that I had never seen, a poem that really spoke to me about our connection with nature and the world. Now that doesn’t really say much because I never liked cummings. I think this is probably because of the way I encountered him in high school English (how many high school English classes have damaged our interest in literature and “English”!).

Dewitt Jones had shared this poem on his wonderful website, Celebrate What’s Right With The World. The first lines say,

“I thank You God for most this amazing

day; for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes”

I read that and had to look up the entire poem. It truly reflects the way I often feel when I am outside with the “greenly spirits of trees” and under “a blue true dream of sky.” Nature photography takes me there and helps remind me of these special qualities of our world. It also helps remind me that these special qualities can be easily taken away by thoughtless and uncaring people who only see dollars instead of a marvelous world given to us by our creator.

It also reminds me of some modern “poetry”, a song by Kid Rock (yes, indeed, Kid Rock, who can be a very thoughtful and authentic poet and songwriter), Care. In it he acknowledges how many challenges there are around us and how hard it is to do anything about all of them –

“Cuz I cant stop the war
Shelter homeless, feed the poor
I can’t walk on water
I can’t save your sons and daughters
I can’t change the world and make things fair
The least that I can do
The least that I can do
The least that I can do is care”

Maybe he is right. The least we can do is care, and in that caring, make a difference.  I believe that is true about nature and one reason why I photograph nature. Because I care and I want to present it to others so that they might care, too.

The “greenly spirits of trees” are in a canyon near Sedona, Arizona, and the “blue true dream of sky” is above the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California. The flowers are yucca (also known as Our Lord’s Candle).

– Rob

I have often told people that if I had to be stranded on a deserted island and could only have two books with me I’d choose the Bible and a hymn book.  God’s Word and the hymns of our faith have been my greatest source of instruction, comfort, joy and inspiration.  While looking through the hymnal we use at my church, The Chalice Hymnal, I came across a hymn I’ve never seen before.  It is called Mountain Brook with Rushing Waters and was written by William W. Reid, Jr.  I have no idea if it has a nice tune or not but I think those who read SeeingCreation.com will find, as I did, that the words have a tremendous message.  The four verses of this hymn read:

Mountain brook with rushing waters, eagle perched in lofty tree, flowering hillside in the springtime, white-tailed deer alert and free!  Beauty, beauty all around us!  Jubilate!  Sing for joy!  Help us, God, preserve earth’s splendor for tomorrow’s world to see.

Pure the water freshly flowing toward its ocean destiny, clean the air of God’s creation, rich the soil, the mine, the sea.  ‘Earth is good!’ God’s word proclaimed it.  Jubilate!  Sing for joy!  Save us, God, from wasteful living, from pollution’s tragedy.

Waving fields of wheat and barley, giant apples juicy red, cattle grazing in the pasture; by God’s bounty we are fed!  Well supplied the world around us!  Jubilate!  Sing for joy!  May no greed or warring madness scorch the earth or rob our bread.

Keep us faithful in the struggle to conserve earth’s threatened store as we fight to save the forest, clean the stream, protect the shore.  God and humans work together, Jubilate!  Sing for joy!  Partners working till as stewards we can say, ‘Earth’s good!’ once more.

I like all the references to nature in this hymn but especially appreciate the petitions included.  The song asks God to help us “preserve earth’s splendor for tomorrow’s world to see.”  In the second verse God is asked to save us “from wasteful living, from pollution’s tragedy.”  The petition in the third verse is “May no greed or warring madness scorch the earth or rob our bread.”  All three petitions are ones we ought to pray on a regular basis. 

I don’t know if this hymn gets sung in many churches or not.  I have a feeling it doesn’t.   I do know, however, that it is the song of my heart and suspect it is for many of you as well.  In the end it really doesn’t matter whether we sing this hymn or not.  What matters is that we live it.  May God help us all do just that!

–Chuck

(I took the image above a couple of weeks ago in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.)

I can’t believe I did it.  After telling people for months I never would, I set up a Facebook account yesterday.    This has prompted one of my friends to say the end of the world must be near.  What can I say?

My resistance to Facebook has been what I perceive to be its impersonal nature.  There are still things I don’t like about it but I can’t deny that the social network of our society now includes things like Facebook.  I’ve actually been in meetings of large groups and discovered that I was the only person there who didn’t have a Facebook account.   I finally gave in and we’ll see what happens.

Most animals that God created are social by nature.  I know there are some creatures that tend to like the solitary life but it is far more common to see animals in groups.  This is important for survival and also so that important lessons can be passed down from one generation to the next. 

Communication between species is quite fascinating.  At various times I’ve read books on how whales, wolves, bears, ravens and a number of other creatures “talk” to one another.  This communication is vital for the animals health, welfare, and general well-being.  The ability to communicate with other members of one’s species can be a matter of life and death.

Of all God’s creatures humans may be the most social.  Hermits are a rarity.  Most of us live in a world filled with people; we have little choice but to interact with others.  That does not necessarily imply, however, that there is always a good line of communication.  Good communication skills must be worked on and developed.  I don’t know if Facebook helps in this area but I hope that it does.  Like other animals, our health, welfare and general well-being as a species is closely tied with our ability to communicate with others of our kind.

Since it is my belief that God placed humans on earth to be good stewards of Creation I will take all of this one step further and say that we must also learn to listen to what other species have to say as well.  No, I’m not implying that we should all become Dr. Doolittles and talk to the animals.  I just think we should pay more attention to the other species that share this planet with us.  By watching and listening we may discover ways we can be better stewards of Creation.  By watching and listening, we may even come to learn a thing or two from our “other neighbors” that will benefit our lives.  Perhaps it’s time we expanded the social network to include all of God’s Creation.

–Chuck

(In the top image thousands of snow geese “flock” together at Bosque del Apache NWR.  In the bottom image a group of bison cross a river in Yellowstone National Park.)

The Sunday School class I teach has been studying John Ortberg’s latest book, The Me I Want to Be.  The last couple of chapters we’ve looked at have to do with our work or vocation.  At one point Ortberg writes, “God says in Genesis that human beings are to ‘rule’ over the earth, or to exercise ‘dominion.’  We often think of these words in terms of ‘dominating’ or ‘bossing around.’  But the true idea behind them is that we are to invest our abilities to create value on the earth, to plant and build and write and organize and heal and invent in ways that bless people and make the earth flourish.”

Although some people view work as drudgery we were created to work.  This may even be a part of what it means to be created “in the image of God.“ (Genesis 1:26-27)  The God who works made us to work as well.  Now obviously work can be understood in a variety of different ways but the truth remains that we are all supposed to use the gifts and abilities God has given us in fruitful service one way or another.

Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “When you arise reluctantly in the morning, think like this: ‘I arise to accomplish a human task.  Should I then complain, when I am about to do that for which I was born, and for which I was placed on earth?  Or was I created to pamper myself under the blankets, even if that is more pleasant?’  Were you born, then, to enjoy and, generally to feel, but not to act?  Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants, the spiders, the bees who all perform their own tasks and in their own way helping to let the cosmos function?  Don’t you then want to do your work as a human?  Don’t you hasten to do what is befitting your nature?”

Aurelius’ words remind us that even plants and animals have work to do.  God has fashioned them and given to them what they need to do this work.  Pay close attention to nature and you will see this is true.  In the same manner, God has made each of us to work and given to us what we need to do the work He created us for.   Our lives will be fuller and the planet healthier if we will “invest our abilities…in ways that bless people and make the earth flourish.”

–Chuck

(I took the two pictures above last winter while visiting Yellowstone National Park.)

“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace–only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” – Anne Lamott

This past weekend I had the privilege of going to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to speak once again at the annual Wilderness Wildlife Week.  This is an outstanding event held each January and if you are not familiar with it I’d encourage you to check it out sometime.  While I was in Pigeon Forge I was able to drive into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a couple of times to photograph.  The fact that the park had received several inches of snow prior to my arrival made this an extra special adventure.

I love being able to get out in the woods after it has snowed, especially before a lot of other people get there and create a bunch of tracks.  A snowy landscape is so beautiful and pristine.  It is absolutely amazing how a heavy snow can transform a scene.  Things that might have looked ugly or unattractive before become stunning in appearance.  I thought about this yesterday as I was photographing in the Elkmont region of the park.  I remembered, as I usually do when it snows, the Bible’s wonderful promise, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18)  This led me to think further on God’s grace.  There are so many things about snow that remind me of His grace.

On U2’s album “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” there is a song called “Grace.”  In the final line of this song Bono sings, “Grace makes beauty out of ugly things.”  God’s grace, like snow, makes beauty out of ugly things.  I know that for a fact.  I’ve seen it in my own life and I’ve seen it in the lives of countless others.  Like gently falling snow God’s grace covers all those who are open to receiving it.  As it blankets us we find ourselves changed.  We look different.  We feel different.  We are different.  Through God’s grace our sins are “covered.”  What was dirty is made clean.  What was ugly is made beautiful. 

Today I find myself very grateful for snow and for God’s amazing grace.  I hope you do too.

–Chuck

(I took both of these pictures yesterday in the Elkmont area of the Great Smoky Mountains N.P.)