Nature’s Humbling Power
Nature certainly has a way of keeping us humble. I suspect God meant for it to be this way knowing that we humans have a tendency to be cocky and think that we are in control. He also knows that such an attitude can get us into all kinds of trouble. The Scriptures warn of the dangers of pride for good reason. When we are prideful we tend not to give God His proper place in our lives. Perhaps this is why many have suggested that pride is the deadliest of the Seven Deadly Sins. It is such a danger that God uses nature, and a number of other means, to keep us humble.
God uses nature in a lot of different ways to humble us. In Sunday School this morning we looked at some of the writings of Martin Luther on prayer. Luther was moved to become a monk when a bolt of lightning barely missed him. This close call with nature’s fury definitely got his attention and humbled him.
Sometimes we are humbled by nature in less dramatic ways. Perhaps we start to feel small after looking at the Milky Way on a clear cold night. At other times we may be humbled by looking up at majestic mountains or beholding a beautiful sunset. Both the vastness and beauty of Creation have a way of challenging our pride and humbling us.
On other occasions it can be the risks or dangers inherent in nature that humble us. When hiking in grizzly bear country or while standing next to a raging torrent I rarely feel prideful. Last night my wife found another copperhead on our driveway. Just knowing that there are poisonous snakes living nearby humbles me and makes me think differently of myself.
No doubt those who have recently experienced the power of hurricanes, tornados, floods, drought and fires could, likewise, speak of nature’s ability to humble us. As painful and frightening as nature’s humbling power can be it is also most beneficial. The wise writer of Proverbs declared, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (16:18) By reminding us from time to time that we are not in control and that there are forces far more powerful than us nature can keep us humble and perhaps even help prevent “a fall.” Nature has a way of reminding us to stay close to the God of Creation and to put our trust in Him. If nature did nothing more than this, it would be an awesome thing!
–Chuck
(I photographed the coastal brown bear at Katmai National Park, the sunset in Glacier National Park, and the lightning strike at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.)