…because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Himas God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

  - Romans 1.21

And when they sat down to table, a bird alighted that moment on the prow of the ship, and made music sweet as an organ with its wings, beating them on the sides of the boat. And Brendan perceived that it was telling something...[and] Brendan bowed himself to the ground, and wept and cried and gave praise and thanks to God, the Creator of all things.

  - Vita Brendani, Irish, 12th century, from an earlier ms.[1]

Brendan was called “the Navigator” for his journeys on the ocean. This encounter with a little bird came during one of those journeys, at the end of a period of rest and seeking the Lord. Brendan had been wracking his brain trying to figure out a particular course of action, where he and his group of men should sail next.

The bird’s wing-beating drum solo made something click in the Navigator’s mind, and he knew at once, intuitively, what he should do. God had spoken to him somehow through the rhythms and sweet thumpings of a bird’s wing against the prow of his leather coracle. Brendan perceived the will of God in these actions, and he gave praise and thanks in return.

Both of which – to perceive and to praise – most of us fail at with alarming consistency.

God is speaking to us through created things. The Scriptures insist on this over and over. The heavens and all things declare His glory, manifest His character, and grant us glimpses into His good and perfect will. We are surrounded by a glory-show every moment of our lives.

Unlike Brendan, however, few of us have ever taken the time to observe or learned to listen, and so we fail to perceive whatever it is God may be wanting to make known to us. Failing to perceive, we fail to praise; thus, we are little better than the pagans who, knowing that God is speaking to them in created things, nevertheless refuse to acknowledge Him, decline to give Him thanks and praise, and thus submit to a darkening of their minds, which prevents them from knowing and serving Him as they should.

But, what can we expect? After all, they’re unbelieving rebels, not in the least interested in the knowledge of God or in submitting to His will. They have their own idols to satisfy – success, happiness, prestige – and can’t be bothered with listening to any voice from God whispering delightful insights or timely words of guidance through the things He has made.

As I said, what can we expect? They’re pagans.

What’s our excuse?

Our forebears in the faith believed that God has given us two books of revelation – Scripture and creation. In each of them we learn more about Him and His will. Each provides insights, illuminations, examples, and experiences which can enrich our relationship with the Lord and lead to richer, fuller, and more consistent worship and obedience.

We should work hard at learning to meet God and His glory in Scripture (2 Cor. 3.12-18).

But we should work just as hard at perceiving the presence and glory of God all around us, and then voicing our praise to God for what He shows us there.

Psalm 111.1-3 (Manoah: “When All Your Mercies, O My God”)
Praise the Lord! O Let my heart give thanks here amid His chosen race!
Your works are great, O Lord, and sought by all who know Your grace.

For Your work is full of splendor, Lord, and of majesty most pure;
Your righteousness, O glorious God, forever will endure!

Lord, help me to understand the creation, so that I might better know you. Adapted from Columbanus, Sermon I

Docents of glory
This week’s ReVision series can help us learn to “stand in the gap” between the glory of God revealed in creation and our calling to glorify Him in all things. By considering seven poems from 19^th century poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, we can learn both how to see the glory of God all around us, and how to make His glory known in everyday relationships and conversations.

Why not download the PDF of this week’s ReVision series, get together with some friends, and work on learning to become docents of glory together?

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T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.