Biology and the Creator

I teach Biology in a homeschool co-op. Teaching this class is one of my favorite things. There are many reasons, but one is that this class like Human Anatomy and Physiology draws me closer to God. I do not how anyone can study Biology and not believe in Intelligent Design, a benevolent Creator. To see the amazing creatures and think it all came from "chance" or by accident - it takes greater faith than I can muster.

Today we dissected perch.

We observed gills and different types of fins. We magnified scales and saw the growth rings. We scraped away the skull and saw the lobes of their brains and found their tiny two-chambered hearts. We saw air bladders and funky livers. We determined male and female. Fun stuff!

The students are doing very well in the class. We have eight students. All are making As or Bs. They are keeping up and they are making good comments. They are super smart. And they are getting somewhat attached to their specimens each time we dissect. In a way, this is nice. It helps them not take it too lightly that an animal had to die to give them the opportunity to study in this manner. But it also makes them a bit squeamish to make the cuts and pull out the upper parts so lower organs can be seen. And we are SO LOUD. Today we needed to stop in the middle of the dissection. I was losing control of the class. They were talking over me, they were pushing back against the steps of the dissection.

So we stopped. And did something I have never done in the middle of a co-op class before. We stopped and prayed.

We asked God to quiet us. Asked for his guidance. But mostly, I thanked him for the opportunity to dissect these fish. You see, it all came washing over me at that moment. Earth could have existed with mankind and one kind of plant. It could be very, very different. Very, VERY boring!

But God chose to put his creativity on display. He put a myriad of color all around us. Even within species, there is an abundance of differences and beauty. In the tiniest of insects, we see miniature perfection. In the longest necks of the giraffes, we see design so intelligent it is astounding.

Dissection is just a tiny, fleeting glimpse into the absolute genius of our glorious Creator. The fact that we have such immense diversity and it all works together to keep each other going. Really, it blows my mind!!

How AWESOME is our GOD!!

"What is man that you are mindful of him?"

And yet he - the Great One - who created everything we study, everything we see - he knows us, loves us, cares for us. He wants to bless us and be close to us.

Oh, may I forever be thankful!

How can anyone study Biology and not love God?! I find it hard to believe that there are atheists in the world of science. Really. (Yes, I know there are, it is just hard to fathom.)

What part of creation brings you closer to God?