
Telluride was so much fun. Originally a mining town it is now a high priced ski resort. Twelve dollars for bacon and eggs, $450 for a scarf! We kind of just laughed at the prices of everything. But the scenery and views were amazing. At the back end of town a waterfall coming down the mountain. Beautiful old buildings, tiny houses of every color. And then smack dab in the center of town all of the cars for the car show. Some exotics, some funky four door cars, a few hot rods. But everywhere people taking pictures of the cars. And one vehicle that was really a hit, and won people's choice award was the truck that Jim and Andy built at our shop. It was crazy, here you have these McLarens, Ford Gt's, so many makes and models, and this 1957 Chevy pickup is star of the show. Everyone taking pictures, exclaiming over the workmanship, the choices in how the truck was put together, the beauty of the artistry and design. Cameras flashing every few seconds it seemed like. People wanting to have their picture taken with the truck. And when they heard the builder was there, they had questions about the build and what it took to finish it. Even standing in the rain just to gawk at it.
It was a wonderful weekend, ending way too quickly. On our way home, the sun was finally shining and it seemed at every pullout, every turn there was someone taking photos of the mountains. Every snow covered peak was the star of the show. The trees preened in glorious array. The river sparkled and shimmered in the sun. There were people with painting easels set up, painting right there off the side of the road. Each and every one amazed by the beauty.
That got me to thinking. If at the car show the day before, people looked at the cars and acknowledged that McLaren built that car, Ford built that super car, Prescott Premier Automotive built that truck...how could they not recognize that there was a master craftsman, an architect of all they see in the world around them? To me, knowing how my husband and son built that truck just enhanced my appreciation for it. Knowing all the hours of labor, all the measurements and precision that went into putting it together made enjoying looking at it all the greater. I think everyone knows that that truck didn't just materialize out of thin air. Well, unless they are dumb as a box of rocks. There wasn't an engine block, some nuts and bolts, a few struts and a rear differential in a room, and lo and behold one day, that truck just appeared. It took an artisan to make it. It took time and effort to complete that build; blood, sweat and tears.
How can any reasonable person took at the nature all around us and not be willing to acknowledge that it was crafted for us, it was made with us in mind as every atom, every little bit was put together. Just as you don't look at the truck that we built, and think, hmmm, poof that just appeared, how can someone honestly look at all that IS, and say, yep, just a big gas ball. As I appreciate the mountains and the valleys, as I see every type of tree; the pine, the aspen, the birch I see skill and craftsmanship. As I see the different types of birds, I see something magnificent. As I see the storm clouds rolling in across that blue sky I am amazed and delighted. And all the more so because I know that the God of all created every bit of it with me in mind, with you in mind. Isaiah 45:18, "For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the LORD, and there is no other. (ESV). And in Job 38:4-7, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (ESV) A planet, a universe so exquisitely made, so divinely put together and yet so many look at and see what? I don't get it, honestly. A bunch of atoms just appeared. Some huge gas ball exploded and formed all of this? Every color of flower, every variation of animal, every type of rock. Every insect, every star, each and every blade of grass, and every one of us. Just chance, just some space flatulence and abracadabra! here we are. No, we were as scripture says 'fearfully and wonderfully made'. Made, formed, thought of, adored, loved. Made precisely so...all of it and all of us.
“God is a God of galaxies, of storms, of roaring seas and boiling thunder, but He is also the God of bread baking, of a child's smile, of dust motes in the sun. He is who He is, and always shall be. Look around you now. He is speaking always and everywhere. His personality can be seen and known and leaned upon. The sun is belching flares while mountains scrape our sky while ants are milking aphids on their colonial leaves and dolphins are laughing in the surf and wheat is rippling and wind is whipping and a boy is looking into the eyes of a girl and mortals are dying.” ― N.D. Wilson, Death by Living: Life Is Meant to Be Spent.
Oh, how my heart soars when I think of all He gave us. As we drove up this weekend, I spent most of that drive wiping tears from my eyes. The beauty, the spectacle He created for my enjoyment. I felt almost silly, weeping like a baby, but I would rather be a baby who accedes to the greatness of God than one who looks with cold eyes; looks but does not see.
What is the point of beauty without appreciating the maker? What is creation without a Creator? We are not random, we are a deliberate well-thought out actualization of the mind and heart of God; a visible testament of His love. I will choose to praise Him for all He has done, I will be vocal in my delight. After all, Jesus said in Luke 19:40 that if we stay silent, then the very rocks will cry out in praise. And I think I'm smarter than a rock...at least a bit.
I will leave you with a few verses to meditate on as you go about your busy day. But don't get too busy to smell the roses, to really see the trees and clouds, to appreciate all that He created.
Job 12:7-10 "But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (NIV)
Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." (NIV)
Psalm 148:1-6 "Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven, praise him from the mountaintops; Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his warriors, Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, you morning stars;
Praise him, high heaven, praise him, heavenly rain clouds; Praise, oh let them praise the name of God--
he spoke the word, and there they were! He set them in place from all time to eternity; He gave his orders, and that’s it!" (MSG)