I was not looking now at an unusual flower arrangement.
I was seeing what Adam had seen on the morning of his creation –
the miracle, moment by moment, of naked existence.
~Aldous Huxley

Wow, what a breathtaking view Adam must have had!  Even though I can only imagine what it was like to have been the first human to lay eyes on Creation, there are times when I stand in a garden and get a small sense of the incredible thrill of it.  Although I’m not sure when this “earthly” love affair of mine began, I do remember that mother had lots of pictures of me as a toddler in a field of wildflowers, a field which I’m sure was full of wondrous things that could well have planted the seed in my soul.  Or maybe it was because of Southern California’s spellbinding, fragrant flowers or maybe the inviting, salty scent of the sea and the frequent trips wagging a pail and shovel to the beach.  The shoreline of the beautiful blue Pacific was where I first became captivated by seashells, by the fishermen on the piers, by sandcastles fashioned out of wet sand, and by the prospect of chasing and/or dodging the little running waves.  My love affair with the earth could also have come from what I experienced on our summer trips to Texas where the earthy smells of livestock, newly cut hay, and recently plowed black earth were strong and rich.  Or perhaps it was the times we’d chase fireflies in the dark or run after butterflies or dragonflies or listen to the hum of bees in the small Texas town where my grandparents lived.  Then there was the lying down at night on grassy patches of Texas soil, away from the cement and noise of the city, and looking up at the vast starry sky that could have been the catalyst.  But, you know what, not knowing the when or why really doesn’t matter; what’s significant is that through my early encounters with earth’s delights I came to know at a very early age that a Holy Hand much bigger than mortal man’s was in all that “passed into my dancing blood.”

Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.  Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever.  He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.  ~Psalm 111:2-4 (NIV)   ✝