There’s more than one way to skin a cat, or so I’m told. I’ve never actually skinned a cat, so I’ll have to take that one on faith. What I know for certain, however, is that there is more than one way to meditate on God’s Word. In a previous post we talked about emphasizing each word of a verse or passage as a way of seeing it in a different light, sort of like looking at the separate facets of a diamond to see how each one shines. If you haven’t read that post yet, you should go back and read it before continuing with this one.
Practicing Connective Meditation
Today’s method, let’s call it connective meditation, starts with what theologians refer to as ‘natural revelation’ (a.k.a., Creation) and filters it through the lens of ‘divine revelation’ (a.k.a., Scripture) to see how God might be speaking to us through the world around us. Practically speaking, it is meditation as an exercise of discovery where you examine something in the natural world to see if you can find how it connects back to the Bible.
For instance, when geese fly in a ‘V’ formation, you might look at that, realize they do so to save energy, and be reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” You might then be inspired to dig deeper into how and why geese fly the way they do, and how God talks about teamwork and synergy in the Bible. You’ll have a better understanding of God’s Word and more profound appreciation for how He reveals Himself through His creation. Will you ever look at a gaggle of geese (yes, a group of geese is called a ‘gaggle’, not a ‘flock’) the same way? Probably not.
"You'll have a better understanding of God's Word and a more profound appreciation for how He reveals Himself through His creation." -Jon Smith #collegiatedisciplemaker Connecting the World and the Bible through Meditation Share on XThis kind of meditation works really well for people who love the great outdoors. You can start with objects, like geese, but activities and processes work just as well. A few years ago Louie Giglio revealed an amazing connection between the Word and the world by looking at laminin, a protein found in living tissue. We’re talking about biochemistry now, but the process works just as well. You can do the same thing with trees or camping or quantum physics. The world is your starting point.
The critical component isn’t where you start, however, it’s where you finish. Scripture is the lens through which we are to see the world, not the other way around. God’s Word is the ultimate guide. Think of it this way: when sin entered the world, Creation was marred—cursed by God, thus we live in a fallen world. The Word of God, however, is still inerrant and infallible. Although Creation speaks with a hoarse voice, God’s Word is loud and crystal clear. Without a doubt, both speak to us, but the Word of God is the one we can trust more.
“Scripture is the lens through which we are to see the world, not the other way around.”
Jon Smith
A Twist on Connective Meditation
Another twist you can put on connective meditation is to look at the Scripture first, then apply it to the world around you. There are thousands of references in the Bible to rocks, crops, stars and other created things. Look at one of those and think about it while you walk in the world. For instance, it’s one thing to read about the tongue as a fire capable of burning down a forest (James 3:5-6); it’s something else to ponder it while you’re hiking through a burned-out section of national forest or watching a wildfire rip through a town on the evening news.
Deuteronomy 6:6-8 says,
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
A Lifestyle of Connective Meditation
Nothing against five AM “quiet times,” but what Moses is pushing God’s people toward is a lifestyle habit that is far more inclusive than an hour-long box to check off your to-do list. He’s talking about moving through life with God’s Word on your heart always. Letting it percolate through your head while you go about your daily routine and bubble up to the surface in odd moments. Connecting what you experience in the world with what God says in His Word is a great way to accomplish that mission.
By the way, if anyone has a good spiritual takeaway from the platypus, let me know. God did some of His most mysterious work there!
