My wife and I always wanted to visit Glacier and Yellowstone national parks.
We were able to make that trip a few weeks ago.
I am sure many have you have been fortunate enough to have also visited there.
We were constantly amazed by the overwhelming beauty of Glacier.
. Majestic mountain peaks
. Cascading waterfalls
. Fast moving streams
. Beautiful vistas along a lake
. Peaceful walks through pine forests
Yellowstone is populated with unique geological features.
. Bubbling hot springs
. Curious mud volcanos
. Spouting geysers
. 308-foot Lower Falls which pours out up to 63,500 gallons of water per minute
As we were enjoying the beauty of our surroundings, our reflections went from majesty to mystery.
. How can thermophiles live in an acidic, bubbling hot mud volcano?
What are thermophiles? They are thermophilic bacteria that thrive on rich minerals. Fascinating!
. How can a grizzly bear subsist on army cutworm moths for part of the
summer. Naturalist Jonathan Muir was correct. Grizzlies will eat anything except granite.
. Fascinating how different species of pine trees live in different
types of soil.
. It is pure fun to get stopped on the road by a "Bison Jam." Having to wait for a herd of bison to stroll by crossing the road in front of your car is so unique.
We know non-Christians appreciate the majesty and beauty as much as us. But we wondered how they try to explain the mystery. These ecosystems are extremely complex with perfectly fine tuning. Is it realistic to believe that precision has happened accidently? How is endless variety - both plants and animals - with perfect interactions possible without a designer? Does this amount of order mean there is a purpose to nature, and then does it follow must there be a purpose to their lives? Without a personal relationship with God- can life have any purpose?
As Christians, we praise God for creating a world with so much beauty and endless variety everywhere. We look forward to the beauty and mystery of the leaves turning colors soon in Minnesota. It brings peace to our souls and a closeness to God. We appreciate Psalms 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."
As Christians, we should also pray enjoying nature will make non-Christians have a desire to know the Creator.
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