I looked out the kitchen window and gasped. I grabbed my husband’s arm, almost pulling him over in my excitement.

American Goldfinch

“Look, there, on the fence.”

This little beauty didn’t stay long, but we haven’t seen him before. We have quite a few bird varieties coming for goodies at Don’s birdhouses. We have colorful Grossbeeks, Red and Gold Finches, Junkos, Scrub Jays and Stellar Jays, Nuthatches and Chickadees. Fluorescent tiny green hummingbirds. And, just a few times, we’ve seen a stunning, sharp black and white Ladderback Woodpecker.

But we’d never seen a Goldfinch here before. His breast was almost yellow-orange, stunning in its vibrancy, his head capped by a black forelock, with black wings, orange beak and claws. We delighted in his presence. And then, flit, he was gone.

How often do we miss small moments of joy because we’re busy looking elsewhere, or waiting for the BIG revelation? I love the scripture that says “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from your law…” Psalm 119:18. And while that speaks of seeing amazing truths in God’s word, I think we can also ask him to open our eyes to see the beauty he has placed around us. Nature in all its beauty, majesty and variety is one way God reveals himself to us.

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Romans 1:19-20 ESV

Do you see God in creation? In yellow-orange sunrises, in pinky-mauve sunsets, the multitude of greens in our forests, grasses and shrubs? As one of my friends said, “While you’re looking at creation, don’t forget to look for the Creator.”

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

John Muir