Yes, it has been a while. I was discouraged for a while because I thought no one was reading, but I was mistaken! I brought the topic up at Bible Study, and received two...threats, I think they were, that I better start writing again. I did receive one request to give my blog some direction. Apparently, some of my older posts are meaningless. If that is true, then I sincerely apologize.
I've always been fascinated by nature in general. I take great joy in taking in the night sky, a sunrise, or a thunderstorm. I have had this fascination for as long as I can remember. I subscribed to any nature magazine I could get my hands on, and dreamed of being a marine biologist. Drawing from that background, I have also been fairly nature-conscious throughout my entire life. If I had had my own way, I would probably have embraced the environmental propaganda out there today. Now, I enjoy nature for the immense testimony it gives to the glory of God. Yet creation, as I will now call it, has always seemed to mean a little bit more to me.
I recently read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Mr. Hawthorne wrote in the time leading up into the time of Romanticism, if I remember correctly. Nature, and "natural" played a big part in developing the Romanticist thought. In the book, where did the characters go when they were hopeless and depressed? The forest. The Forest, actually. In the book it was nearly deified! As they tried to do away with God and put man at the top, they needed something else. Man, in its fallen state is evil. They wanted something good to look upon. Where did they turn? To the only "perfect" thing out there. The untouched, untainted beauty of the natural world.
Needless to say, I disagree with that view. I would also contend that creation in its current state is imperfect. It is in a tainted, broken, state due to the fall. Yet the handiwork of God can still be seen through the layer of sin. In many areas in the Bible, creation is used as a tool to point to the majesty of God.
So, when I read the book, and when I considered that school of thought, I saw the absence of God. Funny, but that happens to be a characteristic of most philosophies. I can definitely see where they were coming from, with my fascination of creation. It is amazing. You don't need me to tell you that, just walk outside.
So, let's acknowledge the presence of God. Let's analyze the Romantics' thought with God involved. What does nature become with God? (Really, this question is irrelevant; it wouldn't be here without God! But remember, we're coming from a Romantic's point of view.) Read Psalm 148. Stop right here and do not read any more of this until you do. Thank you.
Doesn't that create a wonderful feeling, reading that Psalm? To me, the psalm-writer is taking the awe of nature characterized in Romantic philosophy and showing where that fascination comes from. Not only, are we a living, breathing part of the handiwork of God, but it is actively praising Him! The Psalm goes on to command us to join in.
How often do we walk through the woods, look up at the night sky, or even walk across the yard without realizing we are walking right through a symphony of creation praising God? I take that symphony for granted way too much.
A friend recently mentioned that she is thankful for the wind. Really? The wind? Why? Because when you look at this symphony of praise and take it in, how can you not be thankful for it? It is actively praising God. Also, I appreciate the huge encouragement that you get from knowing that you have a God that created all of this and that He is more powerful than it all.
Lastly, this isn't a sermon, but a thought. I just had to put this down because to me, when I think to connect my fascination of nature with Psalm 148, and when I do join in to the symphony of praise, I find more joy in nature than any of the Romantics ever will.
P.S.- If you happen to be a professor of philosophy or literature, please make allowances for my high school understanding of Romantic thought. :)
P.P.S.- Louie Giglio has an awesome, awesome talk on Psalm 148. It is about ten minutes long; look it up on youtube and watch it. It is really cool!
