The Way of the Wild

 

Are there things in this life that absolutely take your breath away? You are awe-inspired by something. Take a moment to ponder what that is.

For some, it could be the birth of a baby or the baptism of a loved one. Maybe you are struck deeply by works of art in a museum. (These things are on my list, too.) But today, I want to draw your attention to the WILD.

There’s something breath-taking about witnessing plants and animals in the wild. Seeing God’s creation in its natural habitat- the way He intended. So majestic are the elephants, horses, and whales in their desert, mountain, or oceanic home. So intricately beautiful are the wildflowers of all shapes, sizes, colors, and heights in their ungroomed field. And just like the Bible says: they need not worry. They have all they need. (see Luke 12:27-28)

So – Why is it that WILD things enchant me? Yes, they point me to our Creator, but I think it goes deeper. It’s more about their WAY.

The way they have all they need to THRIVE.

Have you ever noticed that if you cut some wildflowers to put them in a vase to bring into your kitchen for your own personal pleasure – they die much more quickly than the curated arrangements that we pay so much for? However, when we leave wildflowers where they’ve been planted- or where they’ve just naturally been born- they last all season long.

In their natural soil, they have what they need to thrive.

The same is true of wild animals. When placed in a zoo, they may seem depressed because they are stripped of their innate nature. But when we witness an eagle flying high in the sky with no cage surrounding it- he THRIVES. (see Isaiah 40:31)

So, I wonder- Have we (humans) got it all wrong?

Do we trust in God to provide all we need in the areas that He has planted us?

Or do we work too hard to curate our happiness and success by our own means?

“In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;

The uneven ground shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”    (Isaiah 40:3-5 ESV)

 

“These people are nothing but grass, their love as fragile as WILDFLOWERS.

The grass withers and the wildflowers fade if God so much as blows on them.

Aren’t these people like grass? True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,

But GOD’S WORD stands FIRM FOREVER.    (Isaiah 40:6-8 MSG)