Recently, I got a weather station for my birthday.
Well, I got my wife something she had been wanting for her birthday this year. We had looked at cameras on several different occasions but never found one she really wanted. I educated myself on the different features and styles of cameras and then picked out one that I thought met all the criteria she had for a camera.
My wife has had great fun taking pictures with her new digital camera. She loves the instant gratification of being able to download pictures and view them on her computer; saving her favorites as her desktop background.
She has become quite the photographer since she got her camera. It has been especially fun for her this spring. She has some of the most breathtaking pictures right out of our own yard. She has pictures of all kinds of flowers in every stage of blossom. She has captured pictures of the Japanese Red Maples as their leaves were just beginning to emerge and unfold.
Last weekend, I took my wife to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, where she took many beautiful pictures of flowers in the gardens. When we got home, we looked through her pictures and we could really see God’s handiwork in all the incredible flowers and plants.
The camera picks up minute details, especially when you enlarge the photographs.
I realize that there are so many terrible things going on in our world today, including the war in Iraq, the earthquake in China and the typhoon that hit the people of Myanmar.
Even in our area, the recent tornados have proven their destructive force. The forces of nature are strong, yet there is an undeniable beauty in all creation that I believe many people miss.
There is incredible beauty in the sky every morning and every evening as the sun rises and sets. Have you ever sat quietly outside and listened to the birds sing? If it’s warm enough, I sometimes sit on the front porch and just listen to the falling rain. The sound of it hitting the leaves and splashing in the puddles has the power to touch and transform an overstressed mind.
God can be found in the beauty of each season. Spring reminds us of rebirth; summer offers the rewards from the vegetable garden; fall, an incredible array of colors; and winter, the majestic snowflake.
Many days when I get home, I love to walk around my yard and take in all the beauty that we work so hard to create. I want to see what is blooming, which vegetables are popping through the soil or beginning to produce fruit. It’s in those quiet moments when I am appreciating nature that I feel close to the creator. When we stop and take time to admire creation, it’s almost impossible not to notice the creator. I believe God is closer to us than most of us realize. He is all around us waiting and wanting us to discover him. He is a creative God who wants to interact with us.
We often lead such busy lives that we fail to notice him or even give him the time of day. If something goes wrong, we are quick to call upon him, but as long as life moves along at a good pace, we feel like we don’t need him.
The reality is, this life and the beauty of this world are all fading compared to what we will experience in heaven. Many of us, however, may end up missing that beauty if we do not find the time to connect with our creator here and now. This life, our experience here on earth, is designed to prepare us for eternity. If we fail to connect with God here, we won’t be connected to him up there. So slow down and take time to get to know your creator now so you will enjoy him in eternity.
I want to encourage you to discover God’s presence wherever you are. I realize it’s easy to experience God’s presence at the beach or in the mountains, but can you find it in your own back yard?
Nature cries out that God exists. Don’t miss that message or allow life to keep you too busy to appreciate its beauty.
I have discovered that I can draw close to the creator when I draw close to his creation.
Doug Creamer teaches marketing at East Davidson High School. His Web site is www.dougcreamer.com.