n a t u r e

"Nature teaches us gratitude. But it is not only as she helps us in our own spiritual life that Nature instructs us in our duty to God. Some people have the grace to be tenderly and reverently thankful to the author of a great book, the painter of a great picture––thankful, if less reverently so, to the discoverer of a great invention. What daily and hourly thanks and praise, then, do we owe to the Maker and designer of the beauty, glory, and fitness above our heads and about our feet and surrounding us on every side! From the flower in the crannied wall to the glorious firmament on high, all the things of Nature proclaim without ceasing, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty." The advancement of Science in late years, and the preoccupation of men's minds with structural details of the various members of the natural world, have produced a thick mist to hide the Creator; and we have been content to receive the beauty that delights us and the fitness that astonishes us as self-produced and self-conceived. In this matter, Science has behaved like a child so much occupied with a new toy that to be reminded either of the maker or the giver of the toy is tiresome and vexatious. He does not deny either maker or giver, but the toy itself is all he cares about. This state of preoccupation, which has, no doubt, done good service to the cause of knowledge, is passing by, and the scientific mind is becoming more and more aware of that higher Power than Nature herself which is behind all the workings of Nature. With this recognition will come gratitude; and the thankful heart is the glad heart. Truly, a joyful and a pleasant thing it is to be thankful!" -Charlotte Mason

Together, with friends, we ventured out to discover the season's delights. The poppy fields. God's glory in abundance. It was a spectacular show. The children delighted in romping through the thick orange blooms. In the beginning, that is. They ran, eager to explore. Happy. Joyful. Young investigators taking it all in. Until they stumbled across "pokies!" For in the midst of the beauty were some thorns. Kind of like life. Upon the awareness, came hesitation. And then defeat. Because, well... our children didn't want to be poked! I look back now with a bit of regret. That I did not cease the beautiful, magical moment and work on cultivating the spirit as described above by Miss Mason. That I did not stop to give thanks for thy marvelous works. That I did not use such an opportunity to teach gratitude and reverence. Instead, I allowed the "pokies" to impede on our adventure. On the wonder. For once those "pokies" were recognized and felt, we left the poppy fields shortly thereafter. A lesson for us all. Sometimes, in the midst of beauty, resides just a little bit of pain. We can choose to flee. Or we can choose to flourish.

Although we did leave earlier than I anticipated, we surely enjoyed the abundant beauty. A truly magnificent view. And always, good times with friends. You can find the poppy fields HERE.