See...think...wonder!

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”  (Romans 1:20 NIV)

Recently I have been teaching my Kindergarten class about scientific thinking: to see, think and wonder. I was challenged by this notion, how often do adults see, think and wonder? Soon enough nature and my love of photography provided the perfect opportunity. Whilst taking the dog for a walk I noticed a spectacular mushroom. I returned with my camera, lay down on the wet earth and got lost in the moment.

It was then I realised I wanted to find out more about this beautiful fungi. What I learnt was that fungi are amazing! They are neither plant nor animal but are more closely related to animals than plants. Fungi are decomposers and essential to the workings of our ecosystem. They even help trees connect and communicate with each other. Isn’t that amazing! That’s what Suzanne Sinnard, a Forest Ecologist, suggests here.

My research made me marvel once again at God’s creation. How nature, including mankind, is God’s masterpiece. But if we don’t sit back see, think and wonder we will miss what His creation is telling us. 

Nature is a finely tuned system based on interconnected relationships. Recently mankind has become increasingly disconnected from nature and each other. Children are now being diagnosed with Nature Deficit Disorder, (a newly created term to describe the detrimental effects on health that this causes) and the technology that was meant to connect us is in fact making us more socially isolated. 

So I urge us all to make time to see, to think and to wonder about nature, each other and God’s word, because they are inextricably linked.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians  2:10 NLT)