A reflection on nature

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge." -Psalm 19:1-2

If we look around, we see evidence that God wants us to be joyful.  God's creation is proof that God loves us more than we can ever know. The world that we live in is beautiful.

Our appreciation of creation grows as we get older. When we are younger, we take everything for granted. Nature was not majestic and glorious. The sun comes up in the morning and went in the evening. But now we know that God makes the sun rise up each day.

When I walk out of our house, I see green grass and trees, and colorful flowers.  Butterflies and singing birds. Sunshine, blue sky, falling rain. Playful cats and friendly dogs. Why I haven't noticed these before? Now I see them as God's wondrous gifts.

 If we look at creation and meditate on its goodness, we will discover ourselves crying out, “You love me, don’t you, God?”-J.B. Smith

Lord, when I consider creation, I better understand the love you have for me. Amen.

Meditation upon creation

But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; 

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. 

Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. 

Job 12: 7-10

(One) kind of contemplative prayer is meditation upon the creation. Now, this is no infantile pantheism, but a majestic monotheism in which the great Creator of the universe shows us something of his glory through his creation. The heavens do indeed declare the glory of God and the firmament does show forth his handiwork (Ps. 19:1).

Evelyn Underhill recommends, "...begin with that first form of contemplation which the old mystics sometimes called 'the discovery of God in his creatures!'" So give your attention to the created order. Look at the trees, really look at them. Take a flower and allow its beauty and symmetry to sink deep into your mind and heart.

Listen to the birds they are the messengers of God. Watch the little creatures that creep upon the earth. These are humble acts, to be sure, but sometimes God reaches us profoundly in these simple ways if we will quiet ourselves to listen.

Lord, thank you for revealing more of yourself to us. Not only through your written words but also in your creation. In Jesus' name. Amen

Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, 2003 PDF