See the wonder of creation... through the love of the creator 
 

Dave Gregory introduces his new book Divine Windows - Seeing God Through The Lens Of Science 

One Sunday evening in late February, as dusk fell, I set up my small telescope in the front garden.  The crescent moon and the planet Venus were already visible. As darkness fell, other lights emerged.  First Jupiter, then Mars with hint of red, popped into view overhead. 

Having watched the sky for over 50 years, these were all familiar objects. But I was patiently waiting for something that I had rarely seen. Often hidden in the glow of the setting Sun: Mercury the closest planet to our star, finally popped into view. A tiny speck of light just above the horizon, revealed as a small disk as I turned my telescope towards it. 

Others joined me too, curious as to what I was up to. Passersby and those parking their car to go to the nearby shops. Our new neighbours and friends from around the corner.

As they gazed through the telescope, some for the first time, each exclaimed surprise, wonder and delight at what was revealed beyond their eyes alone. Yet is there something deeper to be found here?

Long ago, the writer of Psalm 19 through so.  Looking up, they exclaimed “the heavens declare the glory of God.” 

To be honest, I’ve not always been sure of this myself. Science too often seem to strip away the mystery of the universe and the world around us. Yet, over time, looking up into the night sky, along with a fascination at what science reveals of the wonder, variety, and order of the cosmos, led me to begin to seek and encounter God. 

Drawing upon people’s experience of “seeing” God throughout the Bible’s story, and of Christians through the ages from different traditions who have imaginatively sought and encountered the divine God through art and nature, in the book Divine Windows – Seeing God Through The Lens of Science, I take people on a journey through eight images of our planet and across space. From the dance of microscopic life in the oceans and swirls of clouds in the sky, out to the Moon and planets, and beyond to the vastness of the deep cosmos. Looking through the wonder, variety, and order that science reveals to glimpse the creativity, playfulness, and love of God for creation.

You don’t have to go out on a chilly winters evening to catch a glimpse of the wonder of creation. If you prefer, you can sit inside your warm homes and watch even more amazing images that sciences captures in those wonderful science and nature documentaries or on YouTube and social media.  And to be honest, the clouds won’t spoil your view! 

Either way, in words and pictures, “Divine Windows” will enable you to begin to see in a new and surprising way – just like my small telescope did for my neighbours, friends, and passers-by.   

And looking deeper, like me, I hope you will see not only something of the wonder of creation, but also through the wonder and love of the creator.

The Revd Dr Dave Gregory is a Baptist minister and former meteorologist and climate scientist. He serves as a missioner for science and environment and as “Dr Dave” is known for Messy Church Does Science and Messy Adventures. 

He is also the writer and presenter of the film series “God Saw That It Was Good.” 

His new book is Divine Windows – Seeing God Through The Lens Of Science, published by BRF.

As Baptist Union president 2018-19, his theme was Divine Windows

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