reading the book of nature

St Ephrem the Syrian tells us to read nature to learn life's lessons today in A Year with the Church Fathers.

And he gives us several examples. The day/night cycle teaches us to take things one step at a time, and to rest. The seasons teach us that there is a time for things and a time for other things... a time to plant and a time to harvest, for example.

But one thing that nature teaches us that Ephrem doesn't mention is praise. He doesn't point out that all of the wonderful shades of the color green ALONE show what a magnificent and creative God we have. The same God who was not content just to give us dogs, but has given us so many varieties, from tiny little pomeranians to great danes. And all of the happy wagging tails and tongues in between. God has given us such a wealth of beauty and creativity, that we can see from His example that He desires us to be creative, too. To participate in His creative act. Tolkien called this being "subcreators". As St Irenaeus taught us, "The glory of God is a man fully alive."

So let's allow the blossom of creativity in each of our hearts to bloom fully into being humans fully alive. Let's glory in the glory of God.

God, thank You for teaching us through Your amazing creation.