“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”                                                            

Ephesians 2:10

This summer I had the gift of exploring some of the South West’s national parks–Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Arches, Canyonland, and Rocky Mountain National Park–all in about a week’s time. Hiking and climbing these amazing formations, I saw some of the most stunning sites I think I will ever see. One memory that I regard as holy to this day is watching the sunrise at the North Window Arch. After groggily getting out of bed around 5am (though I’m a morning person, this was tough), and dragging myself into the car, I climbed up the side of North Window and took my seat to watch some magic, and I was not disappointed. As the sun rose over the horizon, a multitude of colors spilled out–dazzling oranges, pinks, yellows, purples, the gambit of the rainbow. Everything in sight was covered in a golden hue.

A crowd of around 30 had formed at this lookout point. All of us strangers held silence for what seemed like an eternity, awed by this beauty in creation. It felt like church. God was extra showing off that day.

God could have made this world monochromatic, one dimensional, flat. But that’s not what God did. God gave us sprawling prairies, magnificent rivers like the St. Croix and the Mississippi, the changing color of the leaves in fall, and the beautiful rebirth of life in spring. The earth, which could have been boring, is God’s canvas and masterpiece, given for us to enjoy, marvel at, and be reminded of our Creator’s goodness.

The same can be said for each of us. God could have made us all the same, but instead, God gifted us with different shapes, sizes, skin colors, eye colors, nose shapes, cultures, languages, etc. I believe every person holds a piece of the image of God, the imago dei, as theology nerds like myself like to say. These differences we have show each of us another side to this unexplainable God. We are each a piece of God’s beautiful mosaic and the handiwork of God, as this verse says. As we move into this time of Lent, be reminded that everyone you see, including yourself, is God’s handiwork, God’s masterpiece, created in the image of God. Give thanks that God made this world in color and in 3-D. Take time to marvel at the image of God in and all around you.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for creation and for giving us beauty to enjoy. We praise You because we get to participate in Your creative work every day. Help us to recognize Your creative beauty in and, around us every day. Help us to be good stewards of the gifts You’ve graciously given us. Amen.