I stood looking at the vast expanse of mountains, the cool breeze against my skin.

This moment was another experience with nature as the essence of God. In my mind once again I am reminded of the awe and wonder of this magnificent creation of God, Alaska. As I walked through a beautiful field of Alpine and other wild flowers, the words from the song written by Marie Drake are on my lips, "May it mean to you, the blue of the sea, the evening sky, the mountain lakes, and the flowers near by." While the writer was referring to Alaska's flag, for me it was much more. It was a continuation of truth unfolding in my life.

My first experience of this truth was as a child of nine when I stood at the railing of a huge ship, looking out over the ocean, where the vastness was never ending, the beauty overwhelming.  My mother said to me, "This is God's creation; so are you. Never forget God is present in all  you see.

I have never forgotten these words and my experience of God continues to grow.

Each time I remember this event, or have a similar one, I think of Jesus' baptismal experience as described in Matthew 3:16. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened and Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove and lighting on Him. In the same way I am convinced that the feeling I experienced looking upon the vast sea as a child was my personal awakening to my true nature as a child of God. Over the years many of these experiences have been a part of my journey, including this morning as I looked out over the mountains.

A few years ago I picked up a book, Where True Peace Lies, written by Rudy Pizarro. This author writes:

"This book is about me, and the meaning of an experience I had with a green beetle one quiet morning; I held it in my hand, a work in perfection; the work of God, I thought. But then I felt something deep in me, something I have never felt before, a very peaceful feeling. I wondered what it was. I checked the Bible, Lo! and Behold! It was like the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove descending from heaven and resting upon Jesus, while he was being baptized by John the Baptist, so I was baptized with the Holy Spirit in the form of a beetle."

Yes! It was really interesting that this author related his experience with the same scripture as I. But it was more wonderful to know someone else sees the Nature of God in all they look upon. I am sure you also have had this moment in your life, the moment when you had no more doubt about the existence of God.

Seek out these moments; they are constantly available.

They are God's creations, and so are you.

"A life in harmony with nature, the love of truth and virtue, will purge the eyes to understand her text, by degrees we may come to know the primitive sense of the permanent objects of nature, so that the world shall be to us an open book, and every form significant of its hidden life and final cause."—Ralph Waldo Emerson

About the Author

Rev. Dr. Paulette Hogan has served as guest speaker for various Unity centers in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Her vision statement is to behold God’s unfoldment in herself and others through teaching and acceptance.

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