Praise the LORD, my soul. LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. ~ Psalm 104:1
When I was young, I loved being outside in nature. I found joy in watching the clouds shape-shift. Puffy clouds like balls of cotton candy, wispy clouds flowing as rivers of snow, towering thunderous rain clouds bubbling up into floating mountains. I sat on my grandfather’s front porch many mornings and watched the sunrise. The soft glow gradually grew brighter and brighter with splashes of pink, orange, and red—muted shades of gold and yellow revealing crispy blue—then it was daylight. And I had things to do.
As the years have gone by, I often fail to look up at the sky. Don’t mention getting up to watch the sunrise. I snooze my alarm in the morning at least twice. The last time I saw the sun come over the horizon was a few years ago. I was rushing to the airport to catch an early morning flight (At which time… I made a mental note not to book early morning flights!). I didn’t pause for a second to relish the glow that once amazed me. I had things to do.
Several months ago, the church pastors asked for volunteers from the congregation to lead small groups. Groups form based on our interests and are guided by the Senior Pastor leading us through the Reading of the Bible in a Year that starts in January. An idea formed. At first, I ignored it—but it persisted. I doubted it. I haven’t dedicated time or effort to painting and drawing for years.
Surely, leading a small group on “how to grow closer to God by appreciating the beauty and creativity of His creation through visual arts” seems a bit much for my skill set. Maybe, I had misunderstood. I asked a few church members what they thought about me leading a group involving art. They were all like, sure, if that’s your interest. That wasn’t the answer I was looking for. At that point, I felt a little skittish, as John 4:48 came to mind. Was I looking for a sign to believe that leading a small group was a thing to do?
Then a light bulb went off in my mind… so to speak. I shared my small group idea with the fine arts instructor. You could have knocked me over with a marshmallow—for real. Once again, I didn’t get the answer that I expected. He thought it was a great idea and pledged his support. We agreed to co-lead the group. His daughter volunteered to help. He even seemed excited. My apprehension began to evaporate. Was this a sign?
Many people believe that the natural world is a testament to the beauty and majesty of God’s creation—I’m one of them. From the splendor of birds soaring above mountain ranges to the grandeur of the oceans and the delicate beauty of honeybees landing on flowers. Or the intricate patterns of snowflakes swooshing in the wind. The natural world is filled with wonders that inspire awe and reverence. Psalm 19:1-4 tells us that nature is a revelation of God’s character and power.
I look forward to posting weekly updates on this blog as our small group seeks to grow closer to God by purposely appreciating the beauty and creativity of His creation. If you’re interested in joining this small group, it might be possible, virtually online or in person. Please reach out to me through the contact form. Growing closer to God is the best thing to do!
God bless… I am Wiley’s granddaughter.
