Behold the work of the Lord.
Newscasts last week carried this story:
“Remote-controlled cameras sent down to depths of more than 4,500 feet in the Coral Sea, northeast of the northern Australian city of Cairns, have brought back unprecedented views of six-gilled sharks, giant oil fish, swarms of crustaceans and nautiluses that have been compared to “living fossils.”
The photographs fascinated me. Just think we had no idea these creatures even existed until the camera captured them. God created their brilliant colors, symmetrical bumps and flowing tentacles and set them free to dance just for Him these last million years or so. Now He is sharing them with us, His deep sea delights.
When the photos appeared on the television screen, their beauty drew my attention. I abruptly stopped everything else and said, “Only God could have made something so wildly imaginative as these fish.”
The photographs haunted me. With the renewed effort to be green and the tragedy with the oil spill in the gulf, these photographs also stirred within me a deepening appreciation of the delicate balance for all life.
Behold – a neat word meaning to gaze lovingly and tenderly. To give our full attention to soak in every detail. To humbly recognize Who is the real power behind the wonder of every creature, every circumstance, every moment in our lives.
Perhaps as we grow spiritually, we need to become better beholders, to fully take in the glimpses of divine grace that surround us.
These gorgeous creatures remind me that God is the Fount of all creativity! They’re just breathtaking. There is no purer beauty than that which God planted all around us. Thanks for giving me a moment to appreciate some of his artwork! 🙂
Now, you can’t tell me God doesn’t have a sense of humor. Yes, they are beautiful, but weird to my eyes. Especially the Christmas lit fish! You are right, God did give us this to take care of. Great pics!
Excellent points. When my kids were little, I was like Michelle – hard to find time. I used to think, “when I’m older, I’ll have the time.”
Now that I’m a full-fledged member of the refuse-to-admit-to-aging Baby Boomers Generation, I have to chuckle because I’m busier than ever – caring for elderly parents and helping with grandkids and thoroughly enjoying writing about it all at SandwichINK.
So this is an excellent reminder to me to take time daily and enjoy the wonderful gifts God has blessed us with. Thank you for sharing these gorgeous photos. I’m going to have to show them to the grandkids – they’ll love them too! Off to share them on Twitter as well!
Truly amazing! I all too often rush around and through tasks but having two little ones and having to pause as they ‘behold’ all the new wonders around them is a great experience (albeit sometimes frustrating) and your post is a good reminder to keep trying to pause and behold all the wonders around us.
Behold is a beautiful word, isn’t it? “Only God could have created something so beautiful” — that’s the thought the first time I drove through Yellowstone.
Great post, Jeanie.
Wow, Jeanie, these photos are AMAZING. You’re right…only God could have created something so intricate, so exquisitely beautiful. Thank you for posting these!
Praying He heals our Gulf waters as only He can.
Blessings to you, my friend.