Monday, December 10, 2007

...across the room and out the door....

"The sun with all those planets revolving around it and dependent upon it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do."
Galileo

"He (God) stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing".
The Bible

Our universe is such a marvelous mystery!  I have always loved nature and the great outdoors.  As a kid I spent most of my time out of doors.  During the summer months we would explore the woods of our acreage and bask in the sun.  In the fall we picked hazelnuts in those same woods and during the winter months we searched out the deepest snow drifts, built forts, made snow angels, and stomped around on big areas of snow to prepare it for flooding and morph it into a skating rink.  Sometimes my father would create a "hill" for us with his backhoe so we could slide down it with our toboggan.  Southern Manitoba, where we lived had it's share of thunder and lightening storms, hail and wild wind!  I wasn't that fond of the storms but I loved what I saw after the storm.  It seemed to me that the sun shone brighter, grass was greener, air fresher and all the scents of the outdoors were more pungent after the storm.

Motorbiking has afforded me the opportunity to experience the outdoors without the confines of doors and windows to block out the scents and the view.  My initial response to the beauty all around me is silence.  Words fail me and no camera I've ever had in my hand can capture the sights, sounds, scent and feeling of some of the breathtaking scenery in our universe.

I find that this spectacular beauty speaks to me.  It invites me to just simply be.  In it's grip I find solitude, peace, and a great need to give thanks for the opportunity and privilege of being able to experience such extravagance.

Most of all it reminds me of our Creator.  The Bible tells us that creation declares to us the reality of God.  All we have to do is look around us and we can see Him.  The heavens, the skies, the sun show the work of God's hands and display knowledge without actually speaking.  All of creation sits there silently pouring forth speech to everyone who takes the time to look and listen.

So this winter, let's not let the cold dictate how much we get outside to enjoy the wonders out there.  Instead let's walk across the room, out the door, and into that majestic space God created for us to enjoy!

Keep walking!
Elayne

6 comments:

Michele said...

Call me strange but I like to enjoy winter from indoors! My favorite thing to do (when I'm in a house that allows for it) is to sit under a blanket by a fire with some hot chocolate and watch the snow outside. It's so beautiful and I feel like I'll ruin it by making foot prints in it. I love it when snow is pristine with no marks. I could look at that all day.

I hope you enjoy the snow - I'm still waiting for summer to come back!

Love you!

Anonymous said...

For the first time in many years I have actively been getting OUT in the winter (actively meaning .... walking!). It's been marvelous. Yes, it's cold and a bit of a turn-off initially, but once I'm actually in the moment, I feel more alive! Thanks Elayne, for allowing me to echo your graphic silence in His majestic creation!
Renita.

Stacey said...

I loved that post. Number one it sounds like you had such a different upbringing then me even though we grew up with the same parents! Of course I didn't live in the same houses you did. I love, love, love the outdoors too. It makes me so happy. The more remote places always make me feel like I'm connecting with our Creator too. Unfortunately I just don't have enough time to get out. But that's why I love where I live now... getting up and looking over the lake gives me the same feelings. I love the water and it makes me feel calm and peaceful.

Mark said...

Nice post Mom. As you know, I too enjoy the outdoors - especially as pathway to experiencing God. To me, the best church would be one out in the woods, with no roof . . .

Anonymous said...

Mark....I thought of you as I wrote that because I know how much you like to be in the great outdoors. Interesting how we can all enjoy the same thing from different aspects (as in the wilderness for you but NOT for me!; Stacy from her condo balcony in the middle of Toronto; Michele from inside the house looking out the window; and Renita and I enjoy the city parks with our walking group and then there are those bike rides!

Jobina said...

I love creation, but not in a typically outdoorsy kind of way. I love to walk through it slowly without the threat of death looming over me. I'd rather drive or hike through mountains than limb the face of them. I like to squish sand in my toes and feel the waves lap against my legs rather than jump headlong into the craziness that deep water is to me. I like to experience nature quietly, slowly and with my feet firmly planted on the ground. I'm just so glad that no matter how we choose to experience all that God has made it doesn't change the wonder of it all or the fact that HE made it!