A New View Of Life
Searching For The Presence Of God In A Chaotic World
by Eric Elkin
“The North Cascades have my heart,” declared a former camper on Facebook. The words captured his emotions but were completely unnecessary. The images he posted of the mountain range did all the talking. I thought about his post when I read Psalm 19 “no speech, no words - their voices can’t be heard- but their sounds extends throughout the world.”
The picture showed no signs of the fires raging just southeast of the North Cascade Mountain range. The Schneider Springs wildfire has burned over 97 thousand acres and is only 17 percent contained. It is one of 68 large fires burning in the United States right now. Almost 24 thousand people are working tirelessly to contain the destruction.
The forest in Schneider Springs sings a different song. It declares the destructive power of God. This voice can be heard, though, in the roar of flames. Whether human-inspired or void of human touch, natural disasters serve to remind us of our limited powers. Wisdom may have helped homo sapiens thrive, but their wisdom has boundaries.
The modern world basks in the glory of its wisdom. The internet is full of images singing the praise of human intelligence. Yet, we take little credit when it comes to war, poverty, hunger, and injustice. These scars we tend to blame on God. How can God let this happen?
The more I experience the world, the more I am drawn to the power of living in harmony with it. How I live in an urban area directly impacts the vitality of a wilderness area. How I interact with my neighbor shapes my landscape. If you do not believe me consider the images of Syria before and after the war.
In this realm, Bob Ross is a prophet. The former Happy Painter on PBS preached harmony as he taught the world to paint. Those who tuned in discovered how to see “happy trees” in a landscape painting. His soothing voice and quirkiness made him a cult classic in the modern world.
As a younger man, Bob Ross was a master sergeant in the United States Air Force. He developed a reputation as a hard-nosed leader who regularly screamed at his soldiers. The persona he portrayed on television was an intentional decision to be in harmony with his neighbors. He found peace living in and caring for creation and its creatures.
The funniest thing about Ross is he never really taught many people to paint through his PBS television show. The audience tuned in to be calmed by his voice and presence. He appealed to people desperate for peace.
Psalm 19 is a beautiful picture of a mountain range. Its voice is one of patience. The words invite us to see and hear something we do not always go searching to find - the presence of God in a chaotic world. The lesson one can learn from reading it is the joy of living in harmony with creation and its Creator. Consider tuning your heart in to the meditations of the psalmist. You may discover a new view of life by doing it.
Click to read Psalm 19
Reflection Questions:
What image has your heart? Or, Where is your “happy place”?
What images destroy your sense of peace?
How often do you take time to intentionally move away from destructive practices?
What do you hear when you read Psalm 19?