What a View

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” ~Genesis 1:31

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself far too busy to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. I rush from one pressing need to the next. I hurry from one appointment to another, always trying to squeeze a few more ounces of work out of each waking moment. If only the days were 25 hours long! Then, I’m sure, I could accomplish all that requires my attention. Or so I tell myself. 

Recently I visited a beautiful part of the country with truly magnificent views. Before going, I committed to keeping my phone off and not checking email. (I would give myself a B+ on keeping that commitment.) In any case, as I sat atop a mountain overlooking the ocean, free from all distractions, all I could do was enjoy the view. 

It reminded me that God intends for us to pause from time to time; to enjoy the world He has made for us; to savor His goodness in creation and all it contains. Do you ever pause to enjoy the world you inhabit, or are you always rushing past the views?

In Genesis 1 we read that after having made all things, God Himself paused to observe it all — to take it in, such as it were. And He declared something about His creation that’s worth pondering: “it was very good.” God made the world and all that is on it, and He said that it is good. Good to inhabit, good to enjoy, good to observe and appreciate. 

Yet how frequently we drive by the blooming trees and fail to notice their color. How often we hurry home in the evening without a giving a second thought to the sunset in the distance. How many times we walk down the driveway to get the mail without stopping to smell the flowers or to consider the crunch of autumn leaves under our feet. What a world we live in. What a world we miss.

President Ronald Reagan was known for his deep appreciation of creation. While staying at his “Ranch of Heaven,” he would often pause during his daily horse rides to point out a solitary flower or an unusual rock to his companion, remarking on God’s hand in making it. Here was a man of immense responsibility, yet he made time to take in the view. He understood the beauty of the earth, the glory of the skies, the hill and vale, the tree and flower, the sun, moon, and stars of light.

Christian, God made this world and all its beauty for us to enjoy, not to rush past in constant haste. He intends for His people to pause, to rest, and to take pleasure in what He has made, that He might be glorified even in life’s small moments. The next time a flash of color catches your eye, stop. Look. Perhaps even kneel and take it in. Then give thanks to your Father in heaven, who made such things for your joy.

Rev. Kyle Lockhart, Pastor