I love nature and science as it shows me God’s creativity, power and also God’s love. Some of my favourite verses in the bible are the ones that use animals and nature as a metaphor. God gave us humans an inquisitive mind so we can explore this amazing planet and universe.
Here are some of my favourite marvels that show me God in the world around me through nature and science:
#1 Geodes
I love rocks and crystals. I always found them fascinating ever since I was a child.
Geodes form over thousands of years and look so amazing when opened.
“Geodes are geological secondary structures which occur in certain sedimentary and volcanic rocks. They are themselves of sedimentary origin formed by chemical precipitation”. They are also commonly found in the USA, Brazil, Namibia, Uruguay and Mexico!
Attached photo of geodes here
#2 Sunrises and sunsets
The way the sky is lit up each morning and evening has inspired artists, poets and storytellers since the beginning of humankind. Likely nowadays we have science to explain the phenomenon.
Nitrogen and oxygen molecules float around our atmosphere. They reflect blue and violet light back into the atmosphere, creating the appearance of a blue sky. The sun contains all the colours of the rainbow, but they don't reach the ground at the sametime.
I’ve linked an article with a diagram that explains it better.
#3 Outer space
Who doesn’t love space? It’s full of mystery and inspired amazing stories like Star Wars and Star Trek. One of my favourite things to do on the internet is like astronomers photos of galaxies and Nebulas. So cool!
#4 Mountains
I really enjoyed learning about geology at High School.
Being from New Zealand, I’ve seen my fair share of Earthquakes (both big and small) and even a tragic volcanic eruption in my lifetime. The Earth can be so quiet and calm, but so violent and destructive. Learning about how the tectonic plates move and form mountains and just seeing how the Kaikoura coast changed forever after just one good shake. Terrifying and amazing all at once.
#5 Animals that naturally change their gender
“Some species exhibit sequential hermaphroditism. In these species, such as many species of coral reef fishes, sex change is a normal anatomical process.Clownfish, wrasses, moray eels, gobies and other fish species are known to change sex, including reproductive functions.”
I find it incredible that nature can be so complicated. It’s not as neat and tidy, between two binaries like we think it is. And God made it that way, wow!
God’s creation is so big and also microscopic! And I’m a part of it.
Chanell Diaz is a member of The Salvation Army in New Zealand. She and her husband Ronald both work as child care workers and Chanell is also a qualified Youth Worker through Praxis. Chanell has a heart for justice and enjoys creating art and writing in her spare time.