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Near the front door of my house, a wide variety of colourful wildflowers are growing and prospering. Each time I step outside, I casually admire their beauty, but rarely do I stop and bend down to appreciate their intricate detail. It’s not that I don’t care about such things, but given the hurried pace of my life, I’m typically focused on other, more pressing endeavours, or so I’ve led myself to believe. Sadly, the daily tasks I pursue often get in the way of taking the time to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation. Are we on the same page?
The other day I noticed a stunning yellow flower in full bloom that stood out amongst the rest, a beacon of colour that caught my attention and caused me to stop in my tracks and take notice. Bending down for closer observation, I was taken aback by the complexity of the flower itself. Being a lover of photography, I immediately grabbed my phone and snapped a few frames as close as my camera lens would focus. It wasn’t until I zoomed the digital image forward that I really marvelled at the beauty of the flower itself and the finite detail of what lay inside.
Being a believer in Jesus Christ, I took a moment to thank God for such an exquisite flower, and right under my nose, no less. I was glad that I paused long enough to see God’s handywork and to be reminded that all around us, He shows off his splendour and love for us in the world we inhabit, but we are often too busy to fully appreciate. God is visible everywhere in the beauty of nature, from the depths of the oceans to the highest mountain peak—all of it demonstrating the astounding creativity and love that our Heavenly Father has for us, not withstanding the infinite power of the One who made it all, wildflowers included. In and of itself, the power and majesty of God are enough to get me to my knees with arms raised in grateful praise and thanksgiving.
There is a wonderful passage of scripture in Psalms 19, verse 1 that declares God’s handywork and calls us to attention: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (NIV)
One doesn’t have to look far to see God’s hand at work. I know that life is filled with busyness, stress, and worry, but I would encourage you to halt your activities just long enough to smell the daisies, behold a vibrant red sunset, or observe the universe at night in all of its glory. God is everywhere you look, and He’s trying to attract your eyes and mine. Our job is to pay attention to His handywork, not only because it’s beautiful but also because God is calling out to us through His creation, big and small.
So, the next time you see a flower of any kind, stop and stoop for a better view. You might just find yourself closer to God than you expected, and that is never a bad thing!
Paul Smyth
Christian Author
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