“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, ‘Do it again’; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, ‘Do it again,’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again,’ to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike: it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.” -G.K. Chesterton
I am not always up before the sun, especially when the days are getting longer as they are now. But, when I get to see a sunrise, I am thankful, and I think of this quote. Every sunrise is different and miraculous. Taking a walk beneath a full moon and the stars on a summer evening is a wondrous thing. Every spring the dogwoods bloom, and the birds come back and lay eggs. We have amazing thunderstorms and beautiful snow. My aunt’s cat sleeps on the sunny windowsill while squirrels chase each other through the trees outside. God could have made the world a boring place, but we have birds and flowers and trees that are beautiful, not just functional. I would like to stay young enough to see all of that for the inexplicable magic that it is. I am thankful that God does not seem to be bored of making the sun come up every day, or making the world new and different with each season.
Yesterday Mike and I took a picnic lunch to the park after church and had a nice hour or so reading and eating. We went home and did more of the same on our back porch, mellowing in the sun with some “Classical Music for Readers” coming out our open window. It was just about perfect – the kind of day I hope God never gets tired of creating.
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11 Comments
I liked that quote alot. Which book is that from?
Did you read out loud or in silence?
I think it’s from Orthodoxy, Adam.
Alisa, we were reading separately this weekend. Mike’s reading Eragon – the book about the dragon egg. I was just reading a mystery.
I will see the sunrise often soon… or rather, I may be in the OR by the time it rises, since I have to be there at 4:30 am. Oh my.
I’ve seen Eragon displayed at every bookstore I’ve been to in the last few months. Does Mike like it so far? Oh, and your description of the open air in the evenings and days makes me look forward to this summer.
I just read this exact quote this morning. Or part of it. I’m reading Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey. He has a chapter on G.K. Chesterton. (I’m really enjoying the book so far).
In Kenya I am really trying to enjoy every little thing and experience and piece of nature, since it is so different than home.
Yeah, Rhonda, I got the quote from a Philip Yancey book. hehe. I think it was “I was Just Wondering.” I enjoyed Soul Survivor, too – it gave me lots of ideas for new books to try. Philip Yancey is probably my favorite “Christian Living” author.
Steven, Mike likes the book really well so far. I will probably try to read it when he gets done.
Wow. What a great post. I am going to have to go for a walk now and admire the scenery through different eyes. Thanks Kari!
Kathleen read that book at the .net weekend. I see it all the time – is it good?
I like Philip Yancey a lot. I think he won’t ever reach the level of focus that he had with “The Jesus I Never Knew” and “What’s so Amazing About Grace,” because those were very focused books. The others, while still good, lack that focus. However, I thought Soul Survivor was an excellent book, because it was more about how these authors challenged his faith when he wasn’t sure if he wanted to have faith. I could write a book like that, except I would choose different authors. So it was interesting to hear who his authors were, and get a new reading list. It’s probably at least worth a skim-through, Alisa, since you like to read.
Sometime soon I will have to pick up Orthodoxy by Chesterton. I just got the Ragamuffin Gospel which should be interesting, but I’ve been told that there will be quiz in heaven on Orthodoxy…