Articles
Douglas Falls
R E F L E C T I O N S
Thoughts on nature and the Christian faith
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"The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of
glory thunders over many waters." - Ps. 29:3
Douglas Falls is a little-known gem hidden in the mountains of West Virginia. This image was taken in the early morning hours after a heavy rain. Sometimes God whispers to our spirit in quiet moments of contemplation, but there are other times when he shouts. He was shouting when I took this photo.
The roar of the waters cascading over the rocks and echoing throughout the valley demanded my attention. When God thunders, the only sensible thing to do is to stop, be quiet, and listen. And that is what I did. God spoke to me that morning of his authority, his power, and his sovereignty over all things.
I was put in my proper place, and God was elevated to his proper place. I was granted a fleeting glimpse of his holiness and it almost crushed me. He spoke to me with authority, not as my buddy and pal, but as my Lord and Master. As I stood at the base of this waterfall, I was no longer in a beautiful spot in the natural world, I was in a chapel, a sacred place where proper decorum is not just expected, but demanded.
When the Lord thunders over the waters, we are to listen with respect. Sometimes when we gather together in our churches, we try to organize things in a way that will elicit worship. What I learned as I encountered God by this waterfall is that God doesn't need our help to bring about proper worship, an awareness of his presence is all we need. In fact, it is all our frail natures can even begin to assimilate.
So, live your life with an awareness of his presence. Listen when he whispers and humble yourself when he shouts. His voice can be heard at times in a gentle breeze, in the song of a bird, or in the roar of a waterfall.
But, most clearly, in the life and teachings of his Son. - John
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