Reading
“And God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.’ And it was so.” — Genesis 1:24
Reflection
Have you ever happened upon something in nature that stopped you in your tracks? The moment Pastor Brandon spoke about being wonder-struck by nature, I knew exactly what I wanted to share with you this week. I wanted to share this picture of a slug.
I encountered this bright orange creature while on a solitary walk on the grounds of a monastery in France in 2010. I had just graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Architecture but was spending the summer doing a final study abroad course. I was one of fifteen students who were living in cramped quarters while we traveled from place to place in France and Italy studying architecture.
The Convent of La Tourette was one of the last stops in our studies together before we dispersed across Europe for our independent study programs. After six weeks of constant companionship, the solitude of a concrete cell—where my outstretched arms could nearly touch both walls—was a welcome gift.
On the first morning, we had free time to explore the building and grounds. I set off on my own (this introvert was happy to have sanctioned time to myself). While walking along the footpath, I came across this orange slug.
The stark contrast between the vivid orange of the slug and the green moss of the forest floor was breathtaking. I had seen small garden slugs back home, but this guy was nearly the size of my palm (though I dared not touch it). I sat down for a while and watched as it slithered along—blissfully unaware that I was watching.
Even in that moment, I felt a deep sense of peace and solitude. I was glad for the time to myself on the holy ground of the monastery. Living on top of classmates for six weeks with very little downtime, had left my soul weary.
I have been mulling over the writing of this devotional for the last few days, but hadn’t put anything to paper just yet. Then, in the mysterious way that the Holy Spirit works, this quote came across my social media feed this morning (but only after I drank my coffee sitting outside on the front porch, sans smart phone):
“Apprehend God in all things, for God is in all things. Every single creature is full of God and is a book about God. Every creature is a word of God. If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature—even a caterpillar—I would never have to prepare a sermon. So full of God is every creature.”
— Meister Eckhart, German theologian, Dominican philosopher, and contemplative mystic (1260-1327)
That day at the monastery, I felt certain that God was in that place. The slug was a message just for me: a reminder to stop and notice all that God was doing. I had spent weeks studying the magnificent achievements of European architecture—the pinnacle of man-made achievements from the 1200s-1900s, but one of the things I remember most about that trip was this little orange slug. Something small that God placed in my path in a moment where I needed His presence the most.
In Genesis, we are told that God spoke creation into being—even a little orange slug. All creatures spring forth from God. We are sent into the world to reflect God’s goodness and beauty as we encounter other created beings. No words were exchanged between the slug and I that day, but he told me more about God than any sermon ever could.
An Invitation
What is God calling you to slow down and notice? Intentionally set aside time this week to ask God to reveal to you the things that you miss when you hurry on about your business.
Rather than provide you with a prayer, I invite you to meditate on Eckhart’s quote above. What does it mean for a creature to be a “word of God?” How does Creation preach to you? What sermons have you found in nature?
