Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Martin Luther is said to have observed, “God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.”
In other words, one can think of nature as God’s “other book.”
When immersed in nature, I am not only continually reminded of God’s presence, but I understand at the deepest level that we are meant to appreciate and care for God’s creation.
Because nature is part of God’s creation and a gift to us, we have an obligation to protect and preserve it.
So I try to get outside as much as possible and engage in what has become one of my most potent forms of prayer: Nature prayer.
Click HERE to read my post about nature prayer.
As I’ve engaged in nature prayer, I’ve also acquired a new hobby – photography. I even invested in a new camera with a 40X zoom, which has allowed me to capture stunning close-up photos of birds and other wildlife.
Can photography also be a form of prayer? Howard Zehr, author of The Little Book of Contemplative Photography, thinks so.
Photography can serve as a medium for reflection and meditation, and encourages mindfulness, he says. “By slowing down to reflect and meditate, by heightening our visual awareness and our imaginations, by cultivating receptivity and a more holistic way of knowing, we can renew ourselves while gaining new insights into ourselves, the creation, and the Creator.”
Click HERE to read my post about photography as prayer.
For the past couple of years, I’ve been posting some of my favorite nature photos on my blog under the heading “God’s Other Book.” To see the photos, click on the following links:
Fall colors and a bit of history
A prayer of thanksgiving for a truly magnificent cat
Another prayer of thanksgiving
In memory of a beautiful little show-off
Seriously Seeking Answers 