It is hard to hide the fact that the grand-kids have been to my house for a visit. The days that follow their visit, I see their presence everywhere. When my daughter comes home and sits on the couch, she pulls out a princess teapot and says, "So the babies were here today I see." Their little fingerprints are on the sliding door and windows. I find their plastic pretend food stashed in the darnedest places, and a week later I am still picking up tiny rocks that were their treasures. These things are all evidence that two small bodies were at our house. Evidence that I am a grandma. Evidence that my house just may be, for these two little ones, "the happiest place on earth".
I feel this way too when I stand in the most beautiful place on earth. There are no tickets to buy, lines to stand in, or a gift shop to wander through. But it takes my breath away when I stand in the Redwood Forest. I see evidence of the majesty of God.
There are a thousand different shades of green. My artist pallet could never capture the intensity and hue of the color. Everywhere I turn I see a different species of plant and creature. The sun filters through the thick canopy of trees in golden rays here and there. It is awe inspiring. I want to reach my hand out and capture the ray as if it's magical beam could heal my very soul. Everywhere I look, I see the fingerprints of God. Evidence that God is the Master artist.
Redwood trees grow to be over 300 feet tall, and they are 8 feet to 20 feet in diameter!. Their root system is only 6"-12" deep, but they are able to withstand heavy winds and powerful foods because they extend their roots to more than 50 feet from their trunk and they live in groves where they can intertwine their roots. The seed of a redwood tree is only about the size of a tomato seed. As I hold the tiniest cone in my hand, I marvel that a tree so massive comes from a one inch cone. This is Evidence that God is the Master creator.
The Eco system in the Redwood Forest surpassing anything I could imagine. A spider web catches my eye glistening with dew still clinging to it. A spiderweb that if I found in my house would cause a case of the guilts and a spring cleaning spree. But here it is beautiful. It is pristine. It is perfect in symmetry and I find myself wondering how the spider can create such perfect lines and spaces. The earth is boggy and ferns of every shape and size blanket the entire floor of the forest. Evidence that God created all things to work together for His Glory.
There is such peace in the air. If I close my eyes, I can hear the most beautiful sound. Nothing. No cars, no buzzing of machines, not a single voice. But it's the stillness that takes my breath away. I have never known such utter peace. It washes through my body and fills all my senses. It opens my heart and embraces my soul. I have been kissed by God. Be still and know, that I am God. Psalm 46:10 I finally understand what God meant by that. I felt it, in that moment, as I stood paralyzed in wonder. Evidence that God has a great love for me, and desires the best for me.
It is hard for me to imagine that the existence of God often eludes people. The Webster dictionary defines "evidence" as: the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. Evidence can be a funny thing. I have never "seen" the wind, but I see evidence of it blowing through the treetops. I have never "seen" love, but I see evidence of it in a mother's embrace. I have never "seen" God, but I see evidence of him everywhere.
I am not a philosopher. Heck, I can't even do math......or spell. But I have seen the hand of God. I have felt the warmth of His breath upon the back of my neck...... I have stood in the Redwood Forest.