By Janet Keefe
Ahhh, autumn. The leaves are turning, and, for a painter like me, the colors are amazing. For a science geek like me, I know that color is a result of waves, just like sound. I mention this because the poet in me thinks that the riot of color that fall brings makes me feel like my little corner of the world here in NH is singing.
It’s not hard to take a leap and imagine the earth singing praises to our Creator God. I’m not the best at being a praying woman, I will admit, but when I see such beauty, it reminds me to stop and say a little prayer of praise to my God. I feel like my own heart might be singing, just a little, anyways. Because of the painter in me, I pull over in my car and start gleefully taking pictures to paint later, as if I can tether myself onto these moments, these little glimpses into the creative mind of God. As if.
When I was a teen, my dad brought me out into the backyard on a clear, starry evening. He instructed me to look up at the stars. He said “Now, think infinity. Blows your mind, doesn’t it?”
Take a moment. Think of a God who created infinite stars and every cell in your body. God, who created the riot of colors in a temporary autumn and the riot of color that is a newborn sun. He is Elohim; God the Creator (Genesis 1:1). He is the Self-Existent One, Yahweh (Exodus 3:14), and Atik Yomin, the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9). He is Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13) and Abba, Father, Daddy (Galatians 4:6). He is The Everlasting God, El Olam, (Genesis 21: 32-33) and yet is Immanuel, God with Us (Matthew 1:22). Every name is like it’s own song. Can you hear it?
Imagine His Spirit gliding silkily across the waters of an unfamiliar, mysterious ocean (Genesis 1:2). Imagine Him as a column of fire leading His people across the darkness of an unknown and scary land (Exodus 13:21). Imagine His glory being sung by a host of angels shining in the darkness in a shepherd’s field (Luke 2:9-14). Think of Him gently whispering to Elijah, reassuring him after a wind, earthquake, and fire passed him by, but his discouragement held him fast (1 Kings 19:11-13). The heavens declare His glory (Psalm 19:1) and I feel like even the rocks tremble to cry out to praise Him (Luke 19:40).
If you look hard, you can see Him. Maybe it’s just a glimpse. That’s ok. He’s there, in the vibrant colors of fall and the winds that make the leaves dance, in the impossible blue sky and the Nor’easter coming in overnight. He also lives in your heart, if you have asked to know Him. Listen closely. You might be able to hear your own heart singing His praises, maybe just a little.
