Grand Designs

There is an on-going balloting for the ten new wonders of the world. Many are casting their votes based on what they may have experienced; and for others on their perception, if not national pride. So far based on the places I’ve been to, I can count three of those wonders – the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in the Philippines, the Grand Canyon in the United States and the Cathedral Cove in Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand.

I visited the last site (also known as Te Whanganui-A-Hei) on February 2009 and found the experience exhausting, yet exhilarating. My family walked through a trail for almost an hour to reach the destination. As we slowly took the steep stairs leading to the shore, it didn’t seem exciting at first, as we saw only a narrow beach. As we touched down, we followed those in front of us as they turned towards the left where there stood a gigantic rock structure with a huge cave with high ceilings similar to those in a cathedral. We took pictures of our dwarfed selves outside and inside, awed at the majestic creation of God. We saw more people on the other side frolicking and swimming in a longer beach, where a solid rock formation dominated the waters. It was as if the lone giant rock was carved out of the cave and pushed towards the sea. (The cave and beach was used as the tunnel through which the Pevensie children first re-enter Narnia in the movie version of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.)

In today’s world where technology keeps most people inside offices or in their homes, there is need for us to go out and appreciate the masterful art in God’s unlimited canvass. Jesus Christ, during his ministry, was a traveller who often rested in the mountains and hills. "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed."(Mark 1:35) Prior to performing his most significant miracles and just before His crucifixion, He was in the open, conversing with His Father. "And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."" (Mark 14:32)

We do not need to spend a fortune to see the grand designs of God. Just look around you: the sun at it rises each morning, the flowers and trees bursting with mosaic colours, the sea and the sky converging in the horizon, the silvery moon and the twinkling stars scattered above our heads.The list can go on and on. These wonders of nature are meant for us to experience the omnipotence of God. We should be grateful. "O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." (Psalm 104:24)

by Mel Libre