We had a dinosaur traveling museum interactive exhibit come to our school. Kids are so fascinated with dinosaurs. He showed them a tooth from a spinosaurus and a megalodon tooth. Lots of oohs and ahhs, lol. Those teeth were huge! The man was very knowledgeable and spoke at the kids' level and in an encouraging way, too. It was a good event.
The only part that grinds my gears is when they say the dinosaurs lived '65 million years ago in the Mesozoic Era' and so on. I am a young earth creationist and according to the Bible there is no such thing as 'millions of years ago, unless you're talking of the Triune God who dwelt happily in inter-relational contentment totally self-sustaining and self-sufficient in the darkness of the formless void eons prior to earth's creation. But I digress, lol.
Anyway, in the last week we have had heat, tornadoes, thunderstorms, floods, earthquake, snowstorm, and it's back to humid, sticky heat and more rain. It has been so warm the azaleas and redbud trees are blooming. There are dandelions in the lawn. Weird weather!
The natural world is so beautiful and yet the ground is cursed. It throws up thorns and thistles. It groans and it waits the for the moment it will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:21-22). Yet, it's still beautiful.
Here are some wonderful natural world documentaries that demonstrate and extol that creation beauty. Except for Microcosmos, they are Christian films and acknowledge the Creator as the first cause of all this beauty.
Microcosmos, (1996. Rated G. 80 minutes). Available on Amazon blu-ray. Kristin Scott Thomas. One of the most successful nature documentaries of all time, Microcosmos (1996) captures the fun and adventure of a spectacular hidden universe revealed in a breathtaking, close-up view unlike anything you've ever seen! Your family will marvel at a pair of stag beetles dueling like titans. The kids will stare bug-eyed as a magnificent army of worker ants race to stock their larder ... while trying to avoid becoming a feisty pheasant s dinner. And you'll have a front row seat to witness an amazing transformation from caterpillar to butterfly, the remarkable birth of a mosquito, and several other minute miracles of life. With its tiny cast of thousands, Microcosmos leaves no doubt that Mother Nature remains the greatest special effects wizard of all (New York Times).
Metamorphosis: The Beauty and Design of Butterflies (2011. Not Rated. 64 min.). Available to rent on Amazon Prime. Illustra Media. Trailer here. Throughout history, butterflies have fascinated artists and philosophers, scientists and schoolchildren with their profound mystery and beauty. In Metamorphosis you will explore their remarkable world as few ever have before. Spectacular photography, computer animation and magnetic resonance imaging open once hidden doors to every stage of a butterfly's life-cycle. From an egg the size of a pinhead to a magnificent flying insect. It is a transformation so incredible biologists have called it "butterfly magic."
The Riot and the Dance: Earth. (2020. rated 7+. 83 min). Follow the journey of Dr. Gordon Wilson as he traverses the globe studying God's remarkable land animals. Upcoming sequel will be The Riot and the Dance: Oceans.
March of the Penguins. (2005. 80 min. Rated G). Available for rent on Amazon Prime. In the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family. a 2018 sequel is on Hulu, named March of the Penguins: The Next Step.
Reading:
Atlas Obscura has an interesting article titled Moth Fur Is the Ultimate Acoustic Armor
New research, however, explains how these moths still manage to elude their predators without hearing: with minuscule, muffling fur that locks the clicks in and prevents them from echoing back to their hungry sonars.This didn't 'evolve'.
Speaking of animals that can't have evolved, (aside from the butterfly, as you will discover in Metamorphosis...) is the giraffe's neck. Here is Answers in Genesis with Giraffes: Testimonies to God's Design-
A giraffe bending its neck down to drink water is a marvelous display of design. The 25-pound heart that pumps blood way up that neck against gravity suddenly pumps down with gravity, which should cause the delicate brain to explode. But ...
Some of my favorite natural world discoveries are shells on beaches, tide pools, and inter-tidal zones, and the mollusks that live in them, but that's a whole different essay..!
Meanwhile here is Reagan Rose encouraging us to "Take a Hike", get out into the natural and praise God for His world. My normal inclination is to stay inside and stay in my mind. With all the rain we've had I do have a legit excuse, but my road is one-way, has little traffic, and just next door there's a stand of trees and a pasture lots of birds like to nest in and fly over. Cardinals, Tanagers, robins, chickadees are all swooping and chirping. I don't have to go far to enjoy some restful nature and praise Him for the beauty. Even better, there are 4 State Parks near me between 10 minutes and 45 minutes away. The nearest one is 10 minutes down the road.
They all offer a lot of walking, creeks, rivers, ponds, and trails to enjoy. I think I'll get an annual pass and be ready to enjoy them when the State Parks open for the year on March 13.
What do you like to do outside?
A giraffe's neck is a miracle. Photo by EPrata