I like to look at the lives of inventors and try to learn from them. They’re inspiring and worth studying! We live in a world full of wonderful inventions, so it’s natural to point to a computer and ask, “Who made that?” This summer, I went camping, and every night, I took a picture of the sunset. Here’s one.
It’s beautiful. How does it happen? Seeing the water, the light, the air, the earth, and the sun all working together makes me ask: is there an inventive mastermind behind that? In school these days, sometimes kids are told not to talk about religion and science – what people around the world believe – and I think that does everyone an enormous disservice. Learning how to have a respectful conversation about our differences and similarities of beliefs and points of view helps all of us.
Because at some point in life, we start asking questions. How did I get here? How did you get here? Where did all of this stuff come from? How does it work? And there’s endless, wonderful ideas out there. As we study, we get answers that invite more questions.
So, today I’m inviting you to ask the questions, encouraging you to look for answers, and letting you know what I think about it all. I think none of this – not an atom in the cosmos – is an accident or chance. I believe there is a God who created every person and everything. Why do I believe that?
For a few reasons. People who believe in God have talked to me about what they believe and why. I read in the Bible about God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. I talked to God, listened, and started to believe. Here’s where I’m at:
It’s like gravity. Newton studied the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth or toward any other physical body having mass – and it’s so cool that he did. I believe gravity is a real thing because what he said makes sense, even though I don’t understand it all, when I jump up, my body comes back down to the earth – hopefully, on my feet. It’s a “scientific theory” that’s also proved true over and over in my everyday experience of life – so yes, I believe in gravity.
When I look at the sunset, or smell salt in the air off the ocean, or hear children make up a funny song about macaroni noodles, and I wonder if there’s intelligent design behind it, all signs point to: yes.
What do you think about when you look at the sunset? As you move forward with your day today, I want to invite you to ask questions and explore the answers!
Until next time,
Invent your story
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Another inventor who saw God in nature was George Washington Carver. Check out a slice of his life here!
I’m not a professor. Before you hit X, you need to know I did take a nature writing class in college. So, I am professionally taught. Right now, my butt is on a rock and an oak root is buddying up to my coffee mug. It doesn’t get more natural than that.
Welcome to nature writing.
My first assignment to you will be the same challenge I took from my professor in college:
- Get up a half-hour earlier than you normally do.
- Make coffee. It must be coffee.
- Grab a notebook, pen, and your coffee – then go outside.
We had to go to the same spot every day and write – so we were advised to pick our spot carefully. I climbed a tree by a pond back then. I’m feeling kind of lame on this rock now, but that’s okay. I’ll climb a tree tomorrow.
Anyway, once you’re in your “spot” – and if you live in the north during the school season, you’re probably getting cold fast – here’s what you do:
- Write what you hear, taste, smell, touch, and see.
- Write what you’re thinking about.
- Write how you feel.
- Drink your coffee.
The coffee part was the killer for me because I was not a coffee drinker – so I thought I’d be super-smart and buy the cheapest stuff I could find.
Gross.
But it became an odd companion to me. And I visited that tree long after the class was over. You know, it’s funny because it sounds like a complete waste of time. And there are people who will always think something like nature writing is a complete waste of time no matter what you say.
I was going to try and describe all the things I hear, and feel, and imagine right now, but my professor nailed it:
You’ve just got to experience it for yourself.
So, we studied a bunch of books, wrote reports, and all that jazz. For today, I’m going to cut out early and find a tree. As for you, you have your assignment.
Class dismissed.
*I originally wrote this post as a guest blogger for questtype.com. It’s a really cool blog that has fun DIY projects for kids and adults, delicious recipes, and great writing advice. Check it out! Questtype.com.
And have fun inventing your story today.