Going to church makes me feel religious, and like I’m doing the ‘right thing’, but it doesn’t necessarily make me feel truly closer to God. The sermon gives me guidance, which I need, but otherwise, being in a large man-made structure, singing someone else’s songs, and watching some mesmerizing patterns of light projected onto a screen…to me it’s usually entertaining at best. But that’s probably just because singing isn’t a gift or desire that God gave me.

So what does make me feel more connected to God? Things like this sunflower next to my house with it’s perfect double spiral pattern. Every time I see something like this I feel as though I’m standing before direct evidence of God’s presence among us. Humans can make a cheap plastic imitation, but only God can make a tiny seed that converts water, dirt, and sunlight into flower that forms these bright colors and patterns without any human intervention. And if the design alone isn’t enough, it interacts symbiotically with countless other creations. Seeing things like this reminds me that I am not here by sheer coincidence of two colliding stars in a universe without purpose.

While it doesn’t make me a better person, being out in the world that God created, and appreciating His works of art make me feel much more connected to Him in a way that simply attending a church service surrounded by all things man-made can seldom do. In a way I suppose taking this photo and showing it off to the world is, albeit unconventional, my song of praise to our creator.