Decades ago in the philosophy of religion class we argued about the argument from design. I've never been sure how far such an argument takes me as a way of making belief in God more reasonable, or plausible, or faith more secure.
I tend to be more persuaded by wonder, that inner raising of the eyebrows at the mysteries of life, beauty, and goodness. Wonder is both mental event and emotional response, unasked and unexpected joy in such inexplicable pleasures as watching a turquoise damsel fly absorbing radiant heat and energy from the sun, its luminescent bands ridiculously noticeable against the dull brown path-trodden grass.
Standing in warm sunlight enjoying, (note the word joy in the middle of the word), I thought of C. S. Lewis's classic one liner from his paper "Is Theology Poetry?" "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else.”
The photo I did take with my phone was of something altogether more prosaic – late summer heather doing its bit, along with a diversity of grasses, repopulating and rewilding what used to be a planted forest of pines. Perhaps heather, this ubiquitous Scottish shrub, was the third miracle of the day.
Leave a Reply