Smoky Mountains Waterfall
John Miller
11/29/21
- Windstream Mail
R E F L E C T I O N S Thoughts on nature and the Christian faith - 11/29/21 _______________________________________________________________________ "Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it!" - Isa. 44:23 |
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I am not sure why, but I have a love of music and yet have no ability to sing or play any instrument. This is just one of many questions I want to ask the Lord. Why did you give me a desire with no ability to exercise it? On second thought, it is probably a bad idea to question God about anything he has done. But there is one thing I can do, I can enjoy good music when I hear it. When I came across this small waterfall in a stream in the Smoky Mountains, I heard music, beautiful music. I was alone and the forest was quiet except for the melody sung by the falling waters. After photographing, I just sat and listened while God spoke peace to my heart. Nature praises its Creator even when we humans don't. I believe there are songs of praise throughout nature if we just have the ears to hear. In the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, in the songs of birds, the music of insects, or the ripples of water, the creation honors its Maker. I sometimes wonder if God is more pleased with the music produced by nature than he is with the music in our churches which often stresses structure over passion. I know one thing, I felt the presence of God in this temple of nature as I listened to the music of the water flowing over the rocks more than I sometimes do while seated in a pew in a church building. Whose fault is that? Probably my own. I need to try harder to hear and give praise to God when surrounded by my brothers and sisters in a church building. It is something I need to work on. But one thing that doesn't require effort from me is to hear praise while seated by a waterfall in a forest. And I thank God for that. - John
