This post is part of the Christian Writer’s blog chain. The theme for this month is “august,” as in majestic, dignified, distinguished, solemn, imposing, grandeur. Please visit my Christian Writer friends by clicking on the links to the right.
If you missed any of my previous “august” posts, check out finding God’s majesty on the ocean floor [LIVING WATER], with the new life of a child [HOT AUGUST NIGHTS], and in the starry heavens [THE HEAVENS DECLARE YOUR GLORY]. Today's post continues the focus on God's august majesty.
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Every year our family goes to the State Fair. In California, the State Fair doesn’t include jars of peach preserves sporting blue ribbons flapping in the hot summer breeze.
The State Fair in California means that cows are judged in the shaded coolness of a multi-million dollar pavilion. It means the rides are bigger and faster than at most amusement parks. It means the food lineup not only includes corndogs and cotton candy; but also chocolate covered bacon, fried calamari and ostrich burgers.
The California State Fair also means that each visitor receives a 12” live baby redwood to take home and plant. That’s reason enough to go to the fair.
You have not really seen California until you have visited our redwood forests. These ancient giants have lived this earth for centuries. They tower hundreds of feet into the heavens. They are large enough that—when cut—the base provides space for a full-sized dance floor. For the thrill of tourists, at one time, redwoods were carved open to provide a tunnel for cars to drive through. (www.alamedainfo.com/redwood_tree_ca.htm for photos of drive-through trees and tree “houses”)Redwoods are a miracle of longevity and grandeur. And they are a reflection of God’s majesty here on earth.
But they do not grow easily. Every year we bring home our baby redwood trees from the fair. We tenderly plant them. We watch them and whisper to them. We nourish them and care for them every day, every week, every month, until finally…they die.
Even if we could get our seedlings to survive our lifetime, still it is God who continues to care for them after we are gone. It is God who provides the soil and the water and the sunshine. It is God who created them and who continues to be reflected in them when they are 300 years old and 300 feet tall.
As I look around God’s world, His august majesty is everywhere. It is in the small. It is in the average. And it is in the solemn, dignity of the California redwood.
The ancient people tried to build a tower to reach God. They need only to have traveled to the west coast of North America and stood in awe of the Giant Redwoods. The redwoods are California’s personal Tower of Babel, but created by God; reaching toward heaven; reflecting God; and praising Him like the rocks themselves that shout out God’s glory.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminders in this world of your majesty. Show us more of your glory. Help us to see you in everything around us. Let it be for your glory. Amen.
WHAT ABOUT YOU: Look around your world. Where do you see examples of God’s majesty?
4 comments:
Great post!
It's so true about God caring for His creation long after we are gone. As my own garden shows, I'm an imperfect gardener at best.
(Here I was hoping you'd say your house was surrounded on all sides by a gigantic wall of trees.)
@ Mike - I was hoping to be able to say that, too! Alas.
Carol, I've really enjoyed our month of Majesty, it has been fun! I haven't been to California and look forward to seeing the redwood trees and all of the other splendor there. I think our greatest example of majesty here is our beach, it's wide, flat and I just love the sound of the ocean.
@ Chris - I've enjoyed the majestic month, too. Our beaches in Northern California are fierce, unlike yours in Florida. But still God's power is fully evident at both ends of the tide.
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