Up

As most of you probably know, today is the first Sunday of Lent– that forty day period before Easter during which many people give something up (chocolate, alcohol, and desserts are apparently the top 3).  This morning at church, Ian encouraged us to think about Lent as a time to “take something up” that will bring us closer to God… perhaps by helping us to look up and focus on Him.  Today’s weather is quite conducive for one of my favorite ways of spending time with God: being out in nature.  I enjoyed the sunrise during my walk to the bus stop on the way to church this morning.  And I just got back from walking around at the Landslide (so named because it’s the location of a landslide that destroyed some houses and railroad tracks along the river) where I spent time listening to and singing along with worship music and just soaking in the sunlight (a rare gift here in England).  The Landslide is a much more “wild” park than anything you might find within a city in the U.S. (like Central Park); being there is like finding a bit of woods in the middle of the city.  As I walked along, I was reminded of two things:

1. God created the world as part of His efforts to woo us.  He made it beautiful and rugged and wild and tame and crazy and wonderful just for us.  The birds, the trees, the rocks, the rivers– it’s all here for us to look at and experience and enjoy.  What a tremendous gift!

2. God’s creation should always point us (up) to Him.  My current favorite song is called “Captivated” by Shawn McDonald, and the lyrics talk about how various parts of nature can point us to various attributes of God.  The chorus talks about being captivated by God because of what is revealed through His creation.  It’s my prayer that those words be true of me each time I look at the world that God created just for me.

when I look into the mountains, I see Your fame,
when I look into the night sky, it sparkles Your name

the wind in the clouds and the blue in the sky,
the sun and the moon and the stars so high
that’s what draws me to You

[chorus]
I am, I’m captivated by You
and all that You do
I am, I’m captivated

when
I wake unto the morning, it gives me Your sight,
when I look across the ocean, it echoes Your might

the sand on the shore and the waves in the sea,
the air in my lungs and the way You made me
that’s what draws me to You

I
am, I’m captivated by You
and all that You do
I am, I’m captivated

the wind in the clouds and the blue in the sky,
the
sun and the moon and the stars so high,
the sand on the shore and the
waves in the sea,
the
air in my lungs and the way You made me,
the
blood in my veins and my heart You invade,
the plants how they grow and the
trees in the shade,
the
way that I feel and the love in my soul,
I thank You my God for letting
me know

I
am, I’m captivated by You
and all that You do
I am, I’m captivated