Eucharisteo

The gentle breeze brushes my browning skin as I inhale the fresh spring air. The trees rustle in the wind as the birds sweetly chirp as to sing about the beauty of the day.  Nature never ceases to draw me closer to God. Not because of some pantheistic belief that worships or exalts creation above the Creator, but out of a reverent understanding of who created each leaf, each tree, each bird, etc.

There is a peace about nature that echoes what seems to be a silent order of worship. Different characteristics of who God is can be perceived by enjoying nature. Before I became a Christian, nature was a mystery to me. A mystery that came alive and one I enjoyed to discover. It was through the majestic picture of a sunrise over the mountains that left me breathtaking convinced that no evolutionary process could orchestrate such a sight by the mere hand of chance. An Artist so great and so creative could be, not only the Painter of this, but also the original Author.

My enjoyment of nature corresponds with my relationship with God. What do I mean? Judging by my appreciation and awe of nature/creation, I understand and evaluate my relationship with God. The moments I am resting in my Creator, my Redeemer, my God are the moments I can be outside and praise Him for all He has given us, for the beauty that surrounds us each day.

However, when my relationship with God proves unstable and non-existent is when I find myself closed off by the idea of going out and enjoying the day. Those days, even if I willed myself to go outside, I would merely spout off bitter and angry remarks about nature. i.e: "These stupid bugs are annoying," "why does the stupid pollen have to get on everything?,"I hate this..," etc.

Yet the moments in life when I've find the balance between excessive and paltry, between earnest and balderdash are the moments most savored and memorable. In those moments, life tastes sweet and a peaceful appreciation and thanksgiving for the little things eclipses those moments of discontentment and bitterness.

Our level of thanksgiving for the precious gifts God has given us can determine whether or not we are really embracing the full life God has promised us. For me, my appreciation for nature reveals that. To others, it may be an appreciate for friends, for family, etc.  Because when we learn to be content with what God has given us, and when we learn to worship Him for the blessings He has given us, then we no longer hold onto bitterness or discontentment.

Instead, with thanksgiving comes an understanding of God's grace and God's joy. When we can enjoy and praise out of what we have, rather than complain about what we don't, we are saying, "God everything You have given me is enough." And we can rest in that promise.