Evidence

Bear Lake, ID/UT

"...That which is known about God is evident...for God made it evident...For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that [we] are without excuse." Romans 1:18-20

Due to some medical issues, we had to delay the onset of our vacation for eight hours. Since we had prearranged our lodging (lots of it!), we had to somehow absorb the delay. We chose to spend a full day and stay an extra night in Cody, WY, and then drive straight through to Reno, NV, via the scenic route of Yellowstone NP, Teton NP, Bear Lake, and the Salt Flats in Utah. For our entourage this was a 21-hour drive through what seemed like several distinct worlds. My husband did a lot of the driving; the kids were content most of the time; and the scenery was enthralling for much of the day. I had a lot of solitude for silent worship, and reflected on the passage above for a long time. What invisible attributes did the Lord intend to reveal to humanity through the part of Creation we were viewing?

Grand Teton draped with glacial lace...

His sovereignty; He is King of kings

Plunging painted canyons and wide open prairies...

the depth and breadth of His love

Steaming thermal springs...

the gentle but unyielding conviction of His Spirit

Crisp high mountain air...

the fresh fragrance of freedom in Christ

Lush meadows, where moose and buffalo graze...

His rich provision; He's the Shepherd who gives us everything we need

Cascading waterfalls...

His joy--He delights in all of His creation, including US!

Bugling bull elk...

He calls to us

Backpacking bicyclers...

His strength, endurance, and longevity

Speed limit signs...  (okay--they're not "nature," per se--but I enjoy driving fast the way some of you enjoy your vices, and have the same problem with speed limits as some of you do with, say, legal alcohol limits, so let's just rejoice that I'm noticing them!)

His loving limits/boundaries

Interpretive signs...

His Word, the Bible

Slow drivers ahead of us on steep canyon roads...

despite my "need for speed" (!), God is our pacesetter; He's not above placing precious people ahead to slow us, that we might reach our appointments in HIS perfect timing! And while He is seldom early, He is never late...

The piercing pain of the poisonous stinger of the dying wasp wounded on our windshield...

God lovingly warns us that we'll encounter our enemy's fiery darts if we wander past the limits of His shield--a shield limited not by His power (ability), but by His promise (laws)

The wasp itself...

as we buzz down the road called Life, bugs (trials and storms) often splat on our windshield. 

While admittedly distracting, God encourages us that it's foolhardy and unnecessary to focus on these bugs; rather, stay focused on the Road (Jesus--THE WAY!...the Truth, and the Life)

Brilliant-hued Bear Lake, which spans the man-made political border between Idaho and Utah...

because of God's great love for us, He enacted a brilliant plan to span the border between Himself and man, becoming "Immanuel"--that is, "God with us"--whom we most commonly call Jesus. In taking on our sin and dying for us, He bridged the gap created by our sin (lack of trust, unbelief, pride, unwillingness to submit, fear, independence, self-indulgence, self-preservation, etc.), and removed the source of our "need" for man-made borders (prejudices) between each other...

The close proximity of my son's "travel armpits"...

how BELOVED is Jesus' cleansing power!!!  ;~)

The Salt Flats...

God is not stagnant but full of flavor, and He desires to anoint us that we might also be flavorful and spread His flavor to those in our sphere of influence

Truly, I am without excuse!  :~)