March 2007
by Akiiki D. Kabagarama

The heavens declare the glory of God;
The skies proclaim the work of [God's] hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
Night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out to all the earth,
Their words to the ends of the world. (Psalm 19)

I started year 2007 by visiting my daughter and grandchildren who live in Jacksonville , Florida . One afternoon, we drove to the beach. Seeing the big ocean was life-changing, for me. I grew up in a land-locked country where Lake Victoria was the largest mass of water I had ever seen. I also saw rivers and other lakes, but nothing as large as an ocean!

That special afternoon in Florida, I experienced God in a fresh new way. As I saw the waves come to me and heard the voice of this massive volume of water, it was as though the angels were speaking to me. The many birds at the beach, walked around, unafraid of the water or the human beings. All of us enjoyed each other's company, in front of the magnificent ocean whose ends could not be seen.

The scene at the beach took me back to Psalm 19 which tells of God's glory that is revealed in creation. I am also reminded of the popular hymn "How Great Thou Art," ( United Methodist Hymnal #77). The lyrics, "I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed," ring a message in my ears; a message that God is here!

I wonder how often we look around to see God right here in our surroundings. As a young girl, I used to hear the voice of God in thunder and in the forests, on my way to and from fetching water and firewood. At that time, I took all these wonders for granted. Now that I am older, I look back with awe and appreciation. God has always been there, right beside me, offering me guidance and protection.

Stop and take time to notice and experience God. God is right there in your area. Recognize God in creation, both human and non-human. And, just as I did, in front of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, rest from your activities, take in a deep breath, worship and praise the almighty God and experience freedom!

Prayer

God of the universe,

Thank you for revealing yourself to us through your mighty works of creation. Please constantly remind us not to take your work for granted. Help us to recognize you in our surroundings. Amen.