I was sitting on the soft, green grass at my parents’ lake home in rural Minnesota admiring all of creation. The weather was lovely on that bright summer afternoon when my husband of fifteen years walked over to me with the mischievous grin he often wore when he wanted to show me something. Knowing his love of science—especially rocks, furry little creatures, and insects of every shape and form—I was certain it would be another beetle or spider. But this time, it wasn’t. Instead, he revealed a stunning little gift tucked deep inside a cottonwood branch.
The Hidden Star in a Cottonwood Branch
He showed me that when you cut open a cottonwood branch precisely at a growth knot, a perfectly shaped star appears at the center of the small circular branch. What? How special is that? My heart leapt with excitement—I truly felt like a child again, discovering something on a scavenger hunt. Some of the deepest moments of prayer I have ever experienced in my lifetime have come through discovering Our Lord in the silent moments of life, through His created world.
The winters in the Midwest, where I grew up, are dreamy. I will always recall those silent winter nights, with snow falling gently onto the ground. I’m not sure why it evokes such a profound sense of peace, but it never ceases to amaze me how special it is. Even before I began researching snowflakes, I was captivated by their beauty. Then, I came across Wilson Bentley and his marvelous snowflake photographs. He spent fifty years photographing snowflakes through his microscope and never found two that were alike. Again, what awe for Our Creator! The idea that water could form itself into breathtakingly intricate shapes and patterns without a Designer baffles me.
God’s Design in Every Detail
If God guides the process by which millions upon millions of water droplets attract to and grow around a particle of dust—forming stunningly intricate snowflakes—how much more did He pour into the creation of each of us, made in His image and likeness? What joy!
Finally, after my husband begged me to join him in witnessing the total solar eclipse this past April, I couldn’t resist. It was delicately soundless yet affected the entire geographical area in its path. It was one of the most wondrous events I have ever experienced on this Earth. Every part of me recognized how great God is and how beautifully His hands fashion the world around us. It’s up to us to look!
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13
Introducing Albert’s Expeditions
Through prayer, Albert’s Expeditions was born—a YouTube TV show that reveals to children and families the glory of God in creation. Their guide is a Peregrine Falcon, named after St. Albert the Great, who gave the Peregrine Falcon its name 800 years ago. This incredible bird is the fastest animal on the planet, even outpacing a cheetah.
It’s an adventure to bring along my seven curious children and my geologist husband as we write and create episodes that take viewers all over the globe. We also design experiments, scavenger hunts, and nature-building projects that complement the episode themes for subscribers who sign up on the website for $7/month. I can’t wait to share bugs, rocks, and plants named after our beautiful Blessed Mother, and to showcase how unique and gorgeous spiders and insects truly are!
Watch Albert’s Expeditions –> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z40ud_RTiL0&t=11s
There is so much to explore in this world if one takes the time to seek Him. It becomes clear why scripture says in Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”
Image: Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
