The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Psalm 50: 1-2
From the top of Dovers Hill, I savor a panoramic view of the charming Cotswolds. In the distance, a fan of sunlight highlights a patch of neon yellow rapeseed among verdant rolling hills. Below, an endless green carpet is sprinkled with tiny yellow flowers like confetti dropped from clouds. Lambs are bleating back and forth as we weave past them toward a copse of trees.
It’s as if God’s hands are made of seeds in the English countryside and He is waving them as he chuckles. The perfection of beauty the psalmist writes about resonates. God’s face is beaming with kindness.
In the 1600’s, during a tumultuous time in religious history, the Westminster Catechism was adopted, creating a common theology.
Catechism is a word used to describe a way of discipleship in the faith; formulated in a way that when a question is asked, a proper response is learned. It is how one of the most powerful statements of the church came to exist, a response that answers this question: What is the chief end of man?
According to the Westminster Catechism, the chief end of man is to Glorify God and enjoy him forever.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this since my H shared it in his sermon last week. Since becoming a Christian, I realize, I’ve focused more on glorifying God through how I live and less time enjoying Him.
How do you enjoy God?
This week as I embark upon a writing retreat in the Cotswolds, I traipse around stone walls laid by hand as a witness to the intersection of the past with the future. God’s fingerprints are all around us. I notice beauty more easily when I’m rested.
I enjoy God by noticing the contrast of barren branches twisting toward a blue cloudless sky. In delicate purple flowers cascading over rock and sturdy stalks of pink growing through cracks in the pavement. I enjoy God by inhaling the aroma of garlic roasting on a piece of freshly caught fish.
In our busy search for the meaning of life, we can miss the beauty right in front of us. Quiet your soul by standing in one place for a few minutes. Breathe, listen, and enjoy God. You might find yourself whispering, “Glory!”
I’ve been a little smitten with some galleries on Instagram lately. Beautiful images inspire me to create in a way like nothing else can. I plan to share some of the beauty with you here on the weekends.
Today, I introduce you to Jo Rodgers, an expat living in London and a journalist for Vogue Magazine. Jo’s photos tell a story that draws me back to her feed. She has recently published The Essential Guide to the Cotswolds capturing the charm and sophistication of this beautiful area. I ate dinner at Horse and Groom last night and can tell you, Jo is spot on.
What inspires you to become your best? How do you enjoy God during moments of rest?
Happy Sabbath Friends!
The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Psalm 50:23
Want to make rest a routine, not just something you fill in between the cracks of your busyness? Join the Sabbath Society. Follow Sabbath-keepers in community with the hashtag #sabbathsociety on Twitter and Instagram and our Pinterest board, Surrendering to Sabbath.
Such beautiful scenery reminds me of a joyful trip to the Cotswolds in the 1981. though we’ve traveled to England four times, we only made it to this pastoral paradise once. But the memory lingers. I’m so happy that your writing retreat is here (though I’d be hard-pressed to write…I’m be outside exploring all the time). Funny you should talk about man’s chief end. I use this in our journaling playshop for this summer. I’m reminded that enjoying God is His deep desire. It seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? Enjoy His creation over the next days, Shelly. It looks splendid!
Love
Lynn
This is so lovely. Thank you.
I love to garden. To feel the soil on my fingers as I drop a seed into the dark earth. The act of a seed dying then producing new life, growth and harvest. I think. ” the earth is the Lords and everything in it”. Then I am inspired by the bounty of extravagant color. The yellow of dandelions, the centre eye of a purple pansey, clusters of blue, scarlet and pink. At the previous house I often saw a brilliant green humming bird frequent the fountain. All of this is a constant reminder to me of God’s creativity and beauty. Even the rain coming after I planted my garden was wondrous.
Celeste, I hope you blog. This is so lovely! And I take it you are British. 🙂
Blessings in the Lord,
Lynn
Lynn I hope to begin a blog. I gave myself a goal of writing everyday for one year beginning last July.
I had a British grandmother, does that count? I do love the UK and have visited twice so far.
It absolutely counts! 🙂 The elegance of your expression and spelling of centre led me to my erroneous conclusion. 🙂 What was not wrong though was my conclusion that you have a writing gift! Congratulations!