tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583035984896584839.post5348162360602568878..comments2023-05-02T05:40:29.838-07:00Comments on AscendingTheHills: God and NatureJessica Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02450820269367184046noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583035984896584839.post-23798827176506004802010-12-23T09:04:38.666-08:002010-12-23T09:04:38.666-08:00Becky, Justin and Jessica. I thoroughly enjoyed re...Becky, Justin and Jessica. I thoroughly enjoyed reading both the post and your exchanged comments. If I may add though, I believe this post is more about the incomprehensibility of God rather than nature or humans. There are some things we must accept that we just cannot know, no matter how much we try. We only know in part and that's the reason for all individual perspectives. We will know fully when we finally see him. So let's just "be still and know that HE is GOD" and enjoy his love for us while on the way home.<br /><br />A very merry Christmas and a happy new year to us all.Joshua Caleb.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11550337595696903703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583035984896584839.post-72922497836351099322010-11-09T04:36:31.537-08:002010-11-09T04:36:31.537-08:00Thanks Becky and Justin for your comments. Justin,...Thanks Becky and Justin for your comments. Justin, you make some really good points. When I wrote what I did I did think of the possibility that it would seem as if I was minimizing the role of nature and its function. That wasn't my intention. It was to point to the divinity of God and the fact that His compassion and mercy supercedes that of the natural world...it is supernatural. Nature is a beautiful thing and it has its function and purpose. I would agree to the statement: Not only would we not be here if the weak were allowed to live, but those alive now would face an even more difficult life.<br />It is an unfortunate thing, suffering, but it does exist, and there are some purposes to it I suppose.<br /><br />One of the main points of what I wrote was the point that nature reflects the glory of God and that we can learn insights into God's character and mercy through His creations, as Merton eluded to. <br /><br />I suppose...as you and Becky point out...perspective is everything! That's why I love blogging and facebook, etc. because it affords me the opportunity to learn other's perspectives. We should have minds that are open and receptive to new ideas. Thank you Justin for your differing perspective :)<br /><br />Blessings to you both! :)<br /><br />~PeaceJessica Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02450820269367184046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583035984896584839.post-78036625599382039382010-11-08T19:21:46.709-08:002010-11-08T19:21:46.709-08:00I was thinking of the stereotypical piece of rock ...I was thinking of the stereotypical piece of rock that gets crushed, apparently mercilessly, until - surprise! - it becomes a beautiful diamond. Or how devastating forest fires invigorate new life into ecosystems, after the blaze has died down. Dead things give new life to other things. There are many examples of hope and redemption in nature.<br /><br />But then, as you say, it is violent, dispassionate, unconcerned for the weak, etc. And, as Justin pointed out, it all depends on one's perspective. Nature affords opportunity to meditate on so many aspects of the God who created it all. And, as I have been recently learning, the Saviour who will redeem it all as well (cf Romans 8:21). :-) <br /><br />Btw, I loved your comments about not reading Scripture as primarily about science, but about God...it's a huge pet peeve of mine when people miss that point and talk themselves into all sorts of corners! :)Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01670143046817232003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583035984896584839.post-5168525442156694832010-11-08T18:00:37.640-08:002010-11-08T18:00:37.640-08:00But little lion cubs have to eat as well. Some of ...But little lion cubs have to eat as well. Some of that moral relativism working its ugly fingers into the equation, I suppose. Life is not a perfect thing, no one really ever has a flawless life. Would you say that civilization is more forgiving than nature is? If you screw up royaly at work, would you not be fired? Do we not have car accidents, plane crashes, terrorist attacks? Society is a lot less forgiving and with fewer pleasantries. <br /><br />Society won't kill you outright (unless it does), it'll just punish you until you die of miserable old age. People do worse things to people than nature ever could. Yes, nature gets rid of the weak, but only to benefit the strong. We are the strong, you and I, son and daughter of thousands of generations of people fortunate enough to be born with the right genes and luck. Not only would we not be here if the weak were allowed to live, but those alive now would face an even more difficult life. <br /><br />Nature allows us to evolve to be faster, stronger, smarter, to evade that lion. Yes, some creatures must die early and sometimes painful deaths, but only in society are creatures allowed to suffer for decades before death finally takes them. Those that are born don't have a choice about it, but nature gives us the best advantages it can give.Justin Ryan Schwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14017588176211924706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583035984896584839.post-63310239520601107522010-11-08T13:11:20.743-08:002010-11-08T13:11:20.743-08:00Thank you Justin for your comments and observation...Thank you Justin for your comments and observations. I do agree with the fact that nature can be a very giving source too, a source of plentitude when it comes to nourishment (as in the form of berries, and food sources, shelter, etc.). I would suggest though that nature is not very forgiving or lenient towards the weak in nature. This can be seen with a struggling member of an elephant herd that is singled in on and then, because of its weakness, taken down by a predator on an african plain. Part of life? yes...a brutal side of nature nonetheless, yes. <br />I do agree that we do have the misfortune of many times taking nature for granted. That's how we, as humans, have gotten ourselves in a huge environmental mess. We need to respect nature, for we are interconnected with it, all life is connected in one form or another with all living life. When we harm nature, we harm ourselves.<br />Take care :)Jessica Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02450820269367184046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583035984896584839.post-35006693102044145432010-11-08T12:50:01.732-08:002010-11-08T12:50:01.732-08:00I don't believe nature is a brutal place. Ever...I don't believe nature is a brutal place. Everything we've recieved to survive has come through nature. The water in the stream, the berries on the bush, the crops in the field, the light from the sun (and stars), the shade and shelter in the form of trees and rocks, the earth we bury our dead under, the warmth of fire that keeps us strong through the cold. When nature harms us it is we who are harming ourselves by taking nature for granted.Justin Ryan Schwanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14017588176211924706noreply@blogger.com