Seeing Creation

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”  Proverbs 18:24

My week with Rob in California is quickly drawing to a close. We have had a great time together and have also been able to photograph at some amazing places. We have been to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Antelope Valley, the Alabama Hills in the eastern Sierras, and Death Valley National Park. In our remaining time we plan to visit Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Red Rock Canyon. All of these are wonderful places to witness the beauty and majesty of God’s Creation.

Since Rob’s birthday is tomorrow I thought I’d say a few things about him. Rob has proven to be a great friend to me and he is someone I have the highest respect for. I think most people know him for his longtime work as the editor of Outdoor Photographer magazine and for being the author of over forty books. I wish more people could just know him as a person.  He is one of the most intelligent people I know and has a huge heart to go with his good mind.  Rob is also passionate about his faith, nature and photography.  He is a very busy man but he always seems to find time for his family and friends.  Rob truly is a great guy!

One of the things I admire most about Rob is his unique vison. He looks at things from different perspectives than most people. This can be seen in both his photography and his writings. God has blessed Rob with a rare way of seeing things and I have learned so much from him. I feel honored to share this blog with him and always look forward to his postings, as I’m sure you do.

When it comes to “seeing Creation” it truly does help to have a friend to help you along the way. On the eve of his birthday (I won’t say how old he’s going to be) I thank God for Rob Sheppard and the influence he has had on my life in so many different areas.  Happy Birthday Rob!

–Chuck

(The top picture shows Rob photographing at the “Racetrack” in Death Valley a couple of days ago.  I took the middle image at Mesquite Dunes in Death Valley on Monday.  I took the poppies near Antelope Valley on Saturday.)

Yesterday I had a chance to photograph the highest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney.  Later today I will be photographing at the lowest point in the United States, Death Valley.  I find it fascinating that these two extreme points are not very far apart. Sometimes life’s extremes are not that far apart either.  In a single day we may find ourselves moving from deep despair to jubliation or the other way around. We may also find ourselves several places in between.

I noted in my last entry how we have the assurance that God is with us even in the deepest valleys of our lives.  We also have the confidence that He is present with us when we are standing on the proverbial “mountain top” as well.  Thankfully we can likewise affirm that God is with us at all points in between.  In Psalm 139 David asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (vs. 7-10)

It is interesting that David ties God’s continuous presence to the fact that He is also his Creator.  In verse 13, after he has made it clear that there is nowhere he can go to escape from God’s presence, he says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”  Recognizing God as his Maker, and also as his constant Companion, David could not help but worship God.  He said, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (v. 14)

If we can come to comprehend that God is our Creator, too, and that He is there for us in the extremes of life as well as all points in between, then we will likewise find ourselves offering God our worship and praise.  How could we not? Today you can rest assured that God is with you wherever you are and whatever your circumstances.  If you’re high as Mt. Whitney, rejoice knowing that God is with you and that He shares your joy.  If you’re as low as Death Valley, I hope you’ll find both peace and comfort knowing that you are not alone and that the Maker of heaven and earth both cares for you and is there to help you.

–Chuck

(I took the picture of Mount Whitney yesterday morning.  I took the image of Death Valley several years ago.)

In a few minutes I’ll be heading to California.  Once there I’m hooking up with Rob and we plan to solve all the world’s problems in the next week and also do some photography.  One of the locations where we will be photographing is Death Valley National Park.  I have been there a couple of times before so I’m really looking forward to it.  However, when I’ve told people recently where I’m going they all seem to indicate they have no desire to go there.  Apparently it doesn’t sound like a very inviting place.  But it is!  Perhaps the name itself bothers people but I can assure you that Death Valley is full of life and beauty.

There are lots of references to valleys in the Bible.  No doubt the one that comes to people’s minds first is “the valley of the shadow of death.”  This valley, of course, is mentioned in Psalm 23.  Many people over the years have found comfort in this particular psalm.  At times of death a lot of people turn to it.  They like hearing that “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (v. 4)  I must admit it is, indeed, comforting to know that God is with us in our times of grief and when we die.  Many biblical scholars have noted, however, that the way this verse has been translated may be misleading.  A better translation may be “the darkest valley” instead of “the valley of the shadow of death.”

If we take this alternative translation it expands the meaning.  The Psalmist’s assurance now goes beyond just times of death and dying to any period in our life when we are struggling, any period which we might characterize by “darkness.”  This is, certainly, the truth.  The Bible offers us numerous assurances that God is with us wherever we go and whatever our circumstances.  Jesus promised his disciples before leaving this world that he would be with them always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

I look forward to being in Death Valley in a few days.  While there, I plan to offer thanks for God’s constant presence in my life.  Wherever you happen to be, I hope you will do the same.

–Chuck

(I took the pictures above on previous trips to Death Valley National Park.)

“Blessed is the person who finds wisdom, the person who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”  Proverbs 3:13-14

It has been a bittersweet weekend for me.  I have had to preach the funerals of two very special persons.  One funeral was here where I live yesterday; the other was Friday night at a church in Tennessee where I served a number of years ago.  There were a lot of similarities between the two ladies who died.  Both were close to ninety years of age.  Both had been widows for several years.  Both loved their church and were known for their desire to share their faith with others.  There was, however, another common trait that I want to focus on today.  Both loved nature and recognized it to be God’s handiwork and also a means of His revelation.

The woman from here that died I’ve actually written about before on this blog site.  Back in May of 2010 I posted an entry called “Charlotte’s Praise” and talked about Charlotte Mann’s love for God’s creatures and the beauty of this world.  Until just a few days ago Charlotte continued to feed at least 70 ducks every day at her home.  She loved her “babies” and found great delight in them.  She had a groundhog family that lived in her backyard too.  “Homer” was the head of this groundhog family and Charlotte worried about him if she didn’t see him around.  Earlier in her life Charlotte had the opportunity to travel some in North America and the natural beauty she talked often about those places being a source of inspiration to her.  For Charlotte every day was a gift from God and she gave thanks for the little things that a lot of us take for granted.  She was someone who truly loved both the Lord and His Creation.

The other woman, Vauda Faulkner, likewise loved God immensely and felt His presence keenly in nature.  As I prepared to do Vauda’s funeral her son, David, shared with me some wonderful stories.  He told me that his mother always saw the world through the eyes of a child.  David said, “She would just stop whatever she was doing, awestruck with the beauty of falling snow, sunrise and sets, and the moving of storms.”  Vauda felt that God had given everything in His Creation a “voice” and encouraged her children and grandchildren “to listen to the falling snow, gurgling brooks, bird song, the wind in the forest.”

Early on in my life I was taught the importance of learning from my elders.  Even though I’m at the age now where I am a lot of people’s “elder” myself, I continue to learn from those who are ahead of me in years.  I learned a lot from both Charlotte and Vauda and thought I’d pass on to you today some of their wisdom.  At a time when many people fail to make the connection between God and nature I’m glad I can share with you some wisdom from two very special ladies who did make that connection.  I am going to miss both of them.

–Chuck

(The top picture was taken near Jellico, Tennesse, where Vauda lived.  The bottom picture was taken near Pikeville, Kentucky, where Charlotte lived.)

Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Polish-born American rabbi who influenced many through his writings and lectures.  In one of his works he wrote: “Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement, to look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted.  Everything is phenomenal, everything is incredible, to be spiritual is to be constantly amazed.” I think we can all learn from Heschel’s words.  The goal he proposes is certainly a worthy one.  It is also a goal achievable, considering the remarkable world we are blessed to live in.  For me, God’s Creation is a constant source of amazement.  This is true in a number of different way but here I’ll simply identify three.

To begin with, I am constantly amazed at the beauty we find in nature.  The wise writer of Ecclesiastes was on target when he said God has made everything beautiful in its time (3:11).  For those with eyes to see there is beauty everywhere.  There is beauty in the flowers, the trees, the rocks, the clouds, the mountains, the deserts, and the oceans, lakes and rivers of the world.  There is beauty is the sun, moon and stars.  There is beauty in the people I encounter each and every day.  I am constantly amazed at the beauty God has placed before (and within) us.

Second, I am amazed at the power of nature.  Many examples come to mind.  I think of the majestic valleys carved by glaciers in the Sierra Nevada.  I think of some of the great waterfalls I’ve viewed.  I think of Reelfoot Lake in western Tennessee that was created by an earthquake in the early 1800s, an earthquake so large it caused the Mississippi River flow backwards!  I think also of the destruction I saw earlier this week caused by a tornado that came through eastern Kentucky a couple of weeks ago.  I was amazed to see not only the damage done to homes and places of business, but to the trees and hillsides in the area as well.  On a regular basis I am amazed by the power of nature.

The third thing about God’s Creation that constantly amazes me is its variety.  I know I’ve written about this before but it is mindboggling to think of the many different varieties of plant and animal species that exists in our world.  This has been one of the great blessings of all the traveling I’ve gotten to do over the years.  I have been introduced to so many things I would never have seen had I not visited other parts of our country and the world.  Even so, there is plenty of variety right where I live to keep me amazed for years to come.  I truly am amazed at the infinite variety found in God’s Creation.

If, as Heschel suggests, “to be spiritual is to be constantly amazed,” then God did us all a great service when He created the world like He did.  In the beauty, power and variety we find plenty to make and keep us spiritual.  In these there is plenty to keep us constantly moving in God’s direction.  For all of this I can only say, “Thank you, Lord.”

–Chuck

(I took the top picture at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.  The flower image I took here at my home.  I took the image showing tornado damage near Salyersville two days ago.  I photographed the prairie dog in Wyoming.)

A few weeks ago Rob sent me a copy of Richard Louv’s book, The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder.  I have really enjoyed reading it and am learning a lot.  Louv writes brilliantly on how “Every day, our relationship with nature, or lack of it, influences our lives.” Noting studies from several different fields, he discusses how nature plays an important role in our physical, mental and spiritual health.  He shows how exposure to nature affects children’s ability to learn.  He also discusses how exposure to nature encourages creativity, reduces stress and loneliness, and even helps make aging easier.

It would take a lot of time to list all the benefits nature offers that are mentioned in this book.   Even I was surprised by some of the benefits identified.  Seeing these made me wonder how with all these benefits available people today are spending less and less time in nature.   Luov discusses some of the reasons for this.  One of the primary ones is the cultural shift to a technological society.  Our lives revolve more around gadgets today than nature.  He says that the “electronic immersion” drains “our ability to pay attention, to think clearly, to be productive and creative” and concludes “the more high-tech we become, the more nature we need.”

Another reason people are spending less time surrounded by nature is fear.  Having become unfamiliar with the natural world we are afraid of the unknown.  Louv admits that “spending time in nature, particularly in wilderness, can pose physical dangers, but rejecting nature because of those risks and discomforts is a greater gamble.” When you consider what a person misses by not spending time in nature, I cannot help but agree with Louv’s conclusion.

There are more benefits to exposing ourselves to nature than any one person can imagine.  Some may find all these benefits in nature surprising, but not me.  I believe that they are grace gifts.  We read repeatedly in Genesis 1 that after each day of Creation God declared that what He had made was “good.” It truly was and is.  God’s Creation is, in fact, both good and good for you.  It’s now up to us to take advantage of the gifts to be found there.  How foolish it would be not to!

–Chuck

(The top image shows my friend, Steve Ausmus, inside Double Arch at Arches National Park.  The middle picture shows me surveying the scenery high in Haleakala National Park.  The bottom picture shows Rob Sheppard photographing near his home in California.)