President’s Corner

Sep 3, 2011 by Angella

The Inspiration of Creation

by Mary A. Hake, OCW President

OCW’s theme for our 2011 fall conference may seem a bit different, but it expresses a truth that should accompany all our writing. If we are not “Excited by Creation,” how can we effectively share about our wonderful Creator? Whether overt or subtle, the universe and God’s universal truths provide bountiful inspiration and an eternity of material for writers.

Have you ever exalted as you gazed into the night sky through a telescope, studying the myriad stars and planets pinpricking the heavens? Or viewed some of the stunning photographs from outer space and tried to elicit satisfactory words to describe the astounding images only God could see until modern times allowed humans to glimpse these treasures?

NASA has a marvelous image gallery where you can explore the universe via a computer. Have you seen photos of the brilliantly colored Dumbbell Nebula or the “Chaos at the Heart of Orion” as baby stars are born?

So much also awaits our microscopic exploration—whether within a cell or a molecule or teensy creatures living unaware of our gigantic status. Although I have trouble focusing my bifocaled eyes to coordinate with a powerful microscope’s eyepiece lens, I have stood amazed at the scene of a minuscule community functioning as God intended. Doesn’t it seem intentional that God placed people between these two extreme worlds, both of which are invisible without a “scope” to allow observation? Louie Giglio has great video presentations that show God’s wonders both humongous and infinitesimal. He points out how God has placed the image of the Cross in the midst of His star-studded gallery. Astronomers call it the “X” Structure at the core of the Whirlpool Galaxy. Giglio also shares that within our bodies scientists have found the cross-shaped protein molecule laminin, which is essential to maintain life. Throughout Creation we see the design of the Cross: growing plants, birds soaring on the wind, the Southern Cross constellation, etc.—signs to remind us of the Savior.

Time and space will not allow me to mention the millions of amazing living organisms inhabiting our earth, such as the rainbow colors of blooming blossoms or the variety of animals and insects. Choose any letter of the alphabet and see how many of God’s creations you can name beginning with that letter. Ants, alpacas, apples, anacondas.… Each is unique and could be the subject of a book or an article.

I appreciate fine writing that seamlessly weaves scientific facts into a story, a poem, or a song. Bodie Thoene does this well in her Zion Chronicles, a series of novels about the life of Christ. She incorporates astronomical information pointing to Messiah into the books. Nonfiction can be quite interesting and informative, but adding such data to fiction in a way that doesn’t interrupt or intrude takes skill. As Christian writers, I believe this is a proficiency we need to develop in our own writing. We can practice, in conversation and in daily writing, sharing the truth naturally. The world around us offers plenty to study, discuss, and put into writing.  As a song by Selah reminds us, Creation’s splendor speaks of God and offers hope to a broken world.

Scripture is filled with praise to God for all He has made and all He has accomplished. Psalm 19:1–4 says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world” (nlt). I encourage you to spend time scoping out God’s creation and worshipping Him for His wonderful works.

Not only does Creation evoke our worship and inspire our writing, it actually reveals God’s truths to our hearts: “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead” (Romans 1:20 kjv).

We may use illustrations from nature to point to the Master Architect or to celebrate the Designer’s attention to intricate details. We may pen Sunday school lessons, homeschool curricula, Bible studies, poems, songs, or short stories based on God’s Creation. Whatever we do, whatever we write, may all bring glory to God and draw others closer to Him.