Listen to Creation

McDonald Observatory

By Diana Bridges
Psalm 19

Years ago, a commercial for a popular brokerage firm showed a busy world coming to a standstill to listen for financial words of wisdom. The slogan was, “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.” E.F. Hutton and his loyal followers never had to shout to make themselves heard. Instead, business, conversations, and even background noise stopped to give priority to a more important voice.

Psalm 19 begins with an affirmation that creation itself declares the glory of God. If that is the case, why are so many unable to hear the declaration? Last year, I went with a friend to visit the McDonald Observatory in far West Texas. We had tickets to the nightly “Star Party” and were looking forward to gazing through the large telescopes to view the heavens as we had never seen them before. What we hadn’t taken into account was that the moon was almost full that night, and its competing light made it significantly more difficult to view the planets and constellations, which were much further away.

Creation surrounds us, but never raises its voice. It is obscured by lesser lights, many of them artificial, to the point that it would be easy to take no notice of it at all. However, creation is constant while the lesser lights wax and wane. Creation, though beautiful, never seeks to draw attention to itself, but through itself to the Creator. It is like the telescopes at the McDonald Observatory, or perhaps it is an icon, a window into the very presence of God. But only if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Our society idolizes busyness and equates worth with productivity. The economy of God is different. Our lives are re-made when we listen. Listening doesn’t happen by accident, but by intention—an intention that slows us down and teaches us the value of attentiveness.  Creation is speaking. It always has. Who will listen?