Honeysuckles.

sometimes, the best way to really appreciate God's creation is to go for a run in it.

the sun was lazily sitting in the east and all the foliage was soggy with dew. the air smelled like summer, and it was quiet except for me and my brother's feet and our gasping dog.

I sometimes get caught up in my man-made schedule and forget that it's such a minuscule thing compared to the expanse God made with a word.

"Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light." Genesis 1:3

"Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and for years. And let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth'; and it was so." Genesis 1:14-15 

and bam. there was the sun. the same one I squinted at on my jog.

"Then God said, 'Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.' God made the expanse and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so." Genesis 1:6-7.

and bam. there was the sweet, cool air I was breathing in.

"Then God said, 'Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear'; and it was so." Genesis 1:9

and bam. there was the ground that supported my weight as I scaled it.

then came the real kicker of the entire first chapter of Genesis.

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:26-27

 these two verses punch evolution in the face. God took special care to create men and women. the other animals and rest of creation were carefully and wonderfully created, too, but humans were made in God's own image. no other animal or aspect of creation has claim to that. and yet, we are the only part of creation that tries to disown God as our Creator.

everyone knows Genesis, and everyone knows the creation story. sometimes, though, I like to be reminded of how good and awesome and perfect God's plan must be if His creation is this beautiful, even in a fallen world.