Some years back, a biology professor gave a presentation at our church that included photos taken by the latest high-powered microscopes. The photos were amazing, but what I remember more was the awe in the professor’s voice as she described the complexities of God’s creation in the very, very small world she studied. Even though she’d taught for years, she acted as if she was seeing these splotches and patterns for the first time. Her presentation was a prayer of praise to the limitless creativity of our God.
Too Much of a Big Thing?
I wonder if our worship visuals, like many of our prayers, focus too much on big events and fail to acknowledge the numerous smaller things that make our lives on God’s green earth so rich.
A quick image search online for “pattern in nature” will result in lots and lots of found patterns or patterns made from arranged natural elements. Better than finding something online would be to collect these things from the woods or neighborhoods around you. You’d have the fun of finding and arranging them and would likely come home with a good story of what happened along the way.
Something More Graphic
If you’re not projecting images, or if you’re tired of using photographs, take a cue from Steve Frykholm’s popular Herman Miller summer picnic posters: Start with something close up and make it big, but simple.
I think God is honored as much when we notice the small things as when we see sweeping mountain vistas or ocean sunsets.