Nature Shows Me How to Worship
I don’t know about your part of the world, but here in Central Florida we had a bit of a cool snap last week. I took advantage of the weather and got outdoors and worked to transform part of my backyard into what we lightheartedly refer to as the Secret Garden. The highlight of the project is a new Hammock Hideaway. It is from there that I write today.
Something about being outdoors, especially in the morning, is rejuvenating. It is generally cooler and quieter, but something about it clears your head and aids in renewing your perspective. There is nothing holding you back, limiting you. You can see the sky, and in the same way, the possibilities seem more hopeful.
I begin to notice the ways nature declares the glory of the Lord. Anabel Gillham said it for me:
Lord, when I get up very early in the morning, it is so quiet. Still.
Then, in the predawn darkness, a soft, melodious anthem begins. It’s the cardinal. Now I hear the alto in the cooing of the mourning dove; and of course, the mockingbird comes in with his obbligato. It seems they start singing praises to You the minute they open their eyes . . . before the first whisper of dawn.
Oh, my dear Father, I want to be a part of their song. I want to praise You with them, to lift my voice with theirs so that others who might be awake can hear . . . and maybe they will want to join the choir, too.
Let everything alive give praises to the Lord! You praise him! Psalm 150:6 TLB
I thank You for Your creation that cannot keep silent. Their appearance and their activity declare Your purpose and Your glory. Open my eyes to see the reflections of You in my little world. Refresh me with them. Then allow me to go out and live Your purpose and Your glory too.
Do you get the same sort of renewal by being outdoors? Comment below and share your experiences with me.
I always come alive in nature. God is so apparent to me in the “wild”.
I figured I wasn’t the only one. Thanks for stopping by, Janelle!
Hi! Having been my neighbor, you already know how much I am a nature lover because I am so close to God when I am close to nature. I enjoy my secret garden too. God speaks to me so sweetly early in the morning before the world wakes up and the sound of vehicles and business takes over. Enjoy your articles so much. Keep them coming!!
I love the quiet, but if you think about it, it’s not really quiet. There are bird noises, cricket chirps, branches rustling, squirrel chatter, and such. But the quiet from man-made noise is so refreshing. For the same reason I enjoy fishing in the off-season when the boats and wave runners are at rest. It’s deliciously quiet! Thanks for the comment, Marie!
I’m right there with ya! Over the years, many people have asked me why I would ever want to be a runner, and while yes, I do enjoy competition, I also enjoy being an athlete in a place like north Florida and having God’s beauty all around me. Running just makes it so I can see more of nature’s splendor in less time : )
In college, my smallgroup leader had us all pick out things that could remind us throughout the day to be mindful of God’s presence– I picked clouds: Sometimes I see the sky and cannot help but praise God. I know you know what I mean, being so close to Lake Weir sunsets!
Thanks for sharing that Gillham passage; she couldn’t have said it better.
I like the idea of choosing something to aid us in being mindful of God’s presence. I might have to do that. Of course, it will be tough to beat a Lake Weir sunset for sure! Thanks for your comment, Maria. Enjoy the rest of your trip!