Welcome: An Introduction

Sharing the insights I discover as I explore and experience the mystery that is our reality. Join me in my journey and share yours.




Friday, May 13, 2011

Beyond Creation

More joyous than new day's precious song,
More beautiful than colors painting sky and earth,
Is the the shudder my heart feels when it is with
He with Whom it belongs,
Experiencing release and ecstasy of soul's new birth.







I wrote that short poem upon returning from a walk a few days ago. Spring is in full bloom here in New England. My senses were inundated by the unrestrained beauty of God's Creations that seemed to be singing out "Holy Holy Holy is our Lord God Almighty!" as His glory rained down among all who opened the eyes of their hearts to see.  His glory saturated the clovers in rich green and made the buds brim to nearly bursting with the promise of new life. Tulips, adorned by a vibrant array of colors, stood tall and erect, lifting their petals up high in praise.

Walking down the trail I noticed carpets of thick, lush moss lining the face of the cliffs where intermittently water would come rushing down their sides, caught in the many crevices and trickling down into the stream below. Dropplets of water, when caught in midair between sun and stream were like a rainbow of translucent pearls; treasures for the eye to behold. 

Treasures. Blessings. A million of them, surrounding me everywhere, on the earth,  in the sky  and everywhere in between. I thought of my gratitude journal I have been writing in, the goal of jotting down one thousand blessings and how I could imagine going far being a thousand.

I could probably sit all day if given the chance in a shady nook by the river's edge and meditate on the presence of God all around me, singing His love song to us through and around Creation and within our very souls. I couldn't help but contemplating, no matter how beautiful nature is...wow, God is even more glorious, more beautiful. The very "stuff of life" that causes me stop in my tracks, wondering at the glory of the Creator it reflects, is still a mere reflection of the total reality and magnitude, of the holiness of God. Wow. God is immense! God is an awesome God indeed.

That very conclusion was what conceived the above prose. For more beautiful than anything we can herald in nature, is God. Further still, the Love God has for us, the love which ignites the fire of the Spirit within our heart's temples, is even brighter than any midday sun. More diverse and beautiful than the colors that line the world's robes are the many facets of God-His faithfulness,  Love, grace, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, humility-they shine through the world and man's hearts brighter and more colorful than any supernova. His love is better than life. His love holds life, sustains life, is life pulsating His glory  and presence. To acknowledge the creation is to acknowledge the Creator, but to know the Creator within your heart goes even beyond all of that, it solidifies a reality that is truly transforming. It goes beyond just admiring creation to accepting a reality that changes our hearts forever, cleaving us to the Spirit, making us one with God and whole in His love.

I came across this passage today just as I was about to write this post and I found it compatible to what I'm trying to express.


Every time you feel in God's creatures something pleasing and attractive, do not let your attention be arrested by them alone, but, passing them by, transfer your thoughts to God and say: "O my God, if Thy creations are so full of beauty, delight and joy, how infinitely more full of beauty, delight and joy art Thou Thyself, Creator of all!

~ Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

When our hearts our touched by the beauty of nature, may that spur us on to give praise and adoration to the love Creation reflects. The great incomparable and infinite love of God. The very love that rests in the center of our hearts waiting to be awakened, and if already awakened, nurtured by the eternal waters of His mercy and grace and the manna of His Word.


Any thoughts? I'd love to hear them! Please leave them in the comments section. Thank you!









23 comments:

  1. Hi Jessica:
    This passage:
    I could probably sit all day if given the chance in a shady nook by the river's edge and meditate on the presence of God all around me,

    resonated w/me. Growing up in Lisbon a town just east of Norwich Connecticut, there were two "secret" places I'd go and simply be. Reading the above passage brought me RIGHT back to those places.

    Like you, I felt as if I could sit in these places for hours on end and many times I did just that. A sense of calm overtook me in these places and several times friends would walk up to me and I wouldn't even hear or see them I was so far into my own "place."

    Never found another place that held such awe for me. There are a few places in Madison where I live now that I go to, but they are nothing like my places in Lisbon.

    Thank you so much for helping me remember.

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  2. I'm glad this post called you back to a time of simple reflection and meditation, being caught up in the moment of being :) I only have one place I can go to like that...the river where I like to hike. There are days when I long for those kind of moments...it's always refreshing hearing from those who can relate :)
    ~blessings

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  3. I admire your love and relationship with God, wish my bond with Christ was stronger but everyone is in a different location on the path. I feel closer to God when I'm amongst nature and how amazing heaven much be if our world is so beautiful. God is everything and his love trumps all in this wprld...without him we are nothing!!!!

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  4. Thank you David for stopping by :) My relationship with God wasn't always this way, in fact there was a time when I was very far from experiencing His presence and my faith was wavering..but because of His grace he led me back to Him :) You're right..without him we are nothing...those few words, eloquently spoken, show you are closer to God than you might think ;) Thank you for your reflections :) ~blessings

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  5. While reading this I was reminded of the line from Joyful Joyful, “Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above… “
    Your gratitude for a thousand gifts – and beyond – is always so eloquently reflected in your writings, dear Jessica. You give Him praise with your thoughts and meditations daily. And your poem reveals pure delight and passion for Him.

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  6. How much ever I try,why am I not connecting with God,why am I still having those bad days?? I wish to be like u,to love and enjoy these simple pleasures of life..God please help me.

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  7. Hi Jessica -

    Life is full of so many treasures. The human eye can only capture a mere fraction of the trillions of nature's wonder. The rows of tulips that go on endlessly are amazing. I didn't know they are grown in the same manner as corn and beans are here in the mid-west. Long long forever rows and so beautiful.

    I've been meaning to go back and read your 1,000 blessings post. I consider that much like my daily gratitude list that I pray every night before sleep. It's something that I observe consciously throughout each day as well, although I surely need to improve on this. Thanks for the post Jessica. Excellent and always important to read. :)

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  8. Jessica,
    Try as I might I don't think it is possible for me to have the type of peace and joy you have in your life...
    xoxox
    Jessica

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  9. oh gosh...you put me to shame! Why can I not walk with Him...I see Him all around me & believe...yet I cannot write about Him. Your post is as beautiful as ever Jessica.. :)

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  10. Debra, what a beautiful and fitting hymn to bring up...thank you! I hadn't heard that one in ages, now I'm going to look it up again and give it a listen :) ~blessings

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  11. Alpana, you are praying the simple prayer that monks have been praying throughout the ages "Please, God help me." He delivers in His promises, and He will help you, in His timing. We might not always understand His timing, but keep your heart open and willing and He will fill it and reveal to you the most wonderful things :) I use to not feel this way, or see the blessings around me either, and would have thought it not possible. There was a time when I was very far from God and cynical..but there is hope..there's always hope with God. Just keep praying, keep being open, and He will come :) I will pray for you. ~blessings sister

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  12. Thank you Charlie for stopping by :) Yeah, I didn't know that about tuplips either until I started visiting an amazing garden we have in our state that grow them like that :) God's creations are amazing! Thanks for your reflections.

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  13. Louise-if you see Him all around you and believe...you are walking with Him :) Just keep opening your heart, ask Him to let Him be known within you and just wait...He will manifest Himself in the form of the most beautiful love and peace! Perhaps you will write about it when it happens ;) God uses people in different ways, perhaps He is using you to love those around you in the ways that you do...only you know..but don't feel bad for not writing about Him, just live for Him, that's what matters most :) ~blessings

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  14. you are so blessed jessica to have such an encounter with God... a true contemplative indeed :)... i always wish i could lie down on the grass... filled with tulips and daffodils around me... perhaps in another time... :)...

    oh i could sense how your heart bursts out with joy... oh how beautiful You are O God!

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  15. Thanks Jessica for another great post. You really do have a way with words and its great to have some one who loves God putting that into words. God's Creation is like another Gospel shouting His name and His glory. Thanks again Jessica, Mike

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  16. I love you Jessica,and thank you for understanding me.

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  17. Melissa, thank you :) Our God is beautiful indeed! You're faith is beautiful too, it comes across on your blog everytime I visit it. ~blessings

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  18. Mike, I like how you put it, God's creation is like another gospel shouting His name and glory. Beautiful, thanks :) I appreciate you stopping by :)

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  19. Love you too Alpana, always feel free to write me if you want to chat :) ~blessings

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  20. Great use of word pictures; it's as if we were walking alongside you admiring God's creation! It's awesome when a blog can get you out of your circumstance and put you alongside the author; feeling what the author feels and seeing what the author sees; thank you!

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  21. Lovely post Jessica, I think that no matter what ones beliefs are witnessing natures beauties cannot help but move on closer to ones own spirituality :-)

    Be well, be safe, be happy :-)

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  22. Jessica, you are such an inspiring person! I which I could find and have the inner peace that your blog radiate! God bless!

    nelieta

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  23. More joyous than new day's precious song,
    More beautiful than colors painting sky and earth,
    Is the the shudder my heart feels when it is with
    He with Whom it belongs,
    Experiencing release and ecstasy of soul's new birth.

    I love these lines... Amazing work Jessica... Will keep coming to your blog :)

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