Some days I am overwhelmed by how majestic and wonderful God’s creation is. I think about the intricate functions that make our bodies work. I feel tears come to my eyes as I watch a bird fly or see and smell a beautiful array of flowers. I become speechless at the wonder of standing in the shadow of a tree that is over 100 feet tall and over 200 years old.
I can watch an ant work at moving a crumb of bread or some other thing nearly as large as itself and be amazed at how the ant moves it so easily. I never tire of watching water whether it’s a lake moved by wind, oceans moved by tides or streams that break into waterfalls. I take pictures when I can of all these things but the pictures can’t capture the essence or power of what I experience when all my senses are engaged.
As I reflect on how great and wonderful God is for not only the creation but also the love God has for all God created, I wonder yet again. God created me. God knows my faults better than I know them myself. Yet, God also sees the potential and God loves me no matter what choices I make. Why does God care? Why does God watch over all that I do?
Two passages from the book of Psalms lift up these ideas. First, from Psalm 8:1, 3-4 we read:
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth! You made your glory higher than heaven!
When I look up at your skies, at what your fingers made— the moon and the stars that you set firmly in place—
what are human beings that you think about them; what are human beings that you pay attention to them?”
Then in Psalm 114:13 says, “You are the one who created my innermost parts; you knit me together while I was still in my mother’s womb.”
God created us and God loves us. It is a wonder. It is a joy. Yet we often take it all for granted. We don’t take time to notice how our actions impact the creation. We put ourselves down and think God can’t possibly love us anymore. We go about thinking we are in control of our lives and don’t need help of any kind because we forget that it is only through God’s great gift of life that we are even here.
God is mindful of us. Isn’t it time for us to be mindful of God? Our stores are filled with books right now on the topic of mindfulness, staying in the present, paying attention to the here and now. Adult coloring is supposed to help us with that endeavor. How do we become mindful of God?
I suggest you start with simply saying, “Thank you, God” every time you wake up and every time you lay down to sleep. Nothing fancy or wordy, just a simple sentence of gratitude that calls us to mindfulness at the same time. Whenever anything grabs your attention due to its beauty, think of God who put all the pieces of creation at our disposal. When something troubles you and you don’t know what to do, turn to God and ask for guidance while being open to seeing the issue with God’s eyes rather than your own. Call God to mind and say a simple prayer whenever you are waiting in line somewhere—it is much more uplifting than to fume at the delay! Throughout your day, simply be mindful of God’s presence and wonder that God cares enough to create you and be mindful of you. Return the gift by giving thanks.