“It is the
normality not the uniqueness of God’s miracles that causes them to be so
staggering. Rather than shocking the globe with an occasional demonstration of
deity, God has opted to display his power daily. Proverbially. Pounding waves.
Prism-cast colours. Birth, death, life. We are surrounded by miracles. God is
throwing testimonies at us like fireworks, each one exploding, “God is! God is!”
This is a quote from Max Lucado’s “God Came Near”. 
I was so vividly
reminded of the truth of this on our recent trip across to the South Australian
coast. Everywhere we turned there were explosions of wild flowers, dramatically
beautiful scenery, gorgeous sunsets, examples of God’s amazingly diverse creativity.
I found it deeply enriching and inspiring, mentally and spiritually.
Max Lucado goes
on to say “We wonder with so many miraculous testimonies around us, how we
could escape God. But somehow we do. We live in an art gallery of divine
creativity and yet are content to gaze only at the carpet.”
I wanted to share some of what I saw and felt
while I was away, particularly because the refreshment of this feast of beauty
and gIory seemed to clear my mind of niggles and loose ends, which I’m sure
stifle my own creativity, and has allowed me to think, dream and imagine in
more productive ways, both in terms of my writing and my everyday living.
When away on
a holiday or in a new place it’s easier to be watchful and intentional about
soaking up the environment, but in fact when I got home I quickly noticed how
my own garden was full of colour and beauty, how blue the sky was and how amazingly
pretty were the parrots that flit around our back yard. It’s true, as Elizabeth
Barrett Browning wrote: “Earth is crammed with heaven, and every bush aflame
with God. But only those who see take off their shoes.”
I encourage
you to look about and see the glory of God which surrounds us. Immerse yourself in it. Be refreshed. Be
inspired. Be uplifted. And let your own creativity flow from the refreshment of
the wonder of God’s creation.
Carol writes historical novels based on her family ancestry
in Australia from the First Fleet. They include the Turning the Tide series;
Mary’s Guardian, Charlotte’s Angel, Tangled Secrets and Truly Free. Her earlier
novels Suzannah’s Gold and Rebecca’s Dream have been re-released by EBP. Her
new novel, Next of Kin, was released by Rhiza Press this year. You can see more
about Carol and her novels on her website
www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston
Beautiful photos and a great reminder, Carol--thank you. We head off for a brief break next week, so I look forward to being similarly enriched and inspired.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this and your stunning photos Carol.
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