Worshipping God Through Science: Laura Cason
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
Lately, these few verses have been rattling around in my head, and until a few days ago I wasn't able to articulate why.
I recently watched a documentary called Particle Fever with my roommate, which depicts the initial stages and discoveries of the team of scientists in CERN at the Large Hadron Collider as they seek to understand more about particle physics and finally find evidence to support years of theory. Despite having read extensively about the events of 2008, it was honestly breathtaking to witness the greatest scientific advancement in physics for the past 30 years. While we were watching, I couldn't help but feel sad for these scientists whose life's work was being either validated or invalidated in mere moments after years and years of planning, waiting, and anticipating. Such incredible things were happening for their field, for science, and yet there was so little hope to be found. It was a stark reminder of the distorted world we live in, where one can make discoveries of the before unknown and, instead of being filled with wonder and joy, be fully devastated.
If you have ever spent any prolonged amount of time with me, then you know of my somewhat obsessive interest in the world of science, astronomy, physics, and just space in general. I spend an inordinate amount of time reading the latest articles, studies, and discoveries. I often fall down the rabbit hole for hours reading theory after theory and trying as best I can to riddle out the mathematical proofs physicists are so excited to share with a largely uncaring world. It seems I cannot help myself; I have so many questions and a curiosity about creation that cannot be satiated. It’s not that I need to know or that I feel any sense of desperation about the not knowing, but the idea that I could try and haven’t is unbearable. What happened to the great imaginations of the world? Have we truly decided that we know all there is to know? Or is it that we cannot begin to imagine why knowing beyond our current knowledge would matter? Maybe it's that we religious folk are scared that our faith will somehow be undermined by the progression of science.
To the first and second questions I respond: How very selfish and human-centric of us? Surely we are not prideful enough to think our small lives are central to God's creation; we cannot believe we are the nexus. It is frightfully easy to get caught up in our lives and the inner workings of our society. Often, I find myself with my nose to the grindstone, never looking up to appreciate the world around me, never stopping to wonder at any creation outside the hands of man. I find this nearsightedness is crippling not only to my understanding of God but also to my ability to have hope. If we truly believe that God is all-powerful and all-knowing and has thoughts far higher than our own, and if we also believe that everything that is was made to glorify the Lord, then surely we cannot think that anything in existence has no value to us. All things were crafted by the Lord Most High, and he has not made anything without a purpose. We may never come to understand the purpose of many things, but that should not keep us from believing in their existence and revering the design of the Lord.
To the third question I say: I think it’s detrimentally sad that we have accepted so wholeheartedly the separation of religion and science in this day and age. To me it has always seemed like science is just another form of worshiping our Creator. How very small-minded must we be to think that any scientific discovery could disprove the existence of God. But how beautiful the world is when we recognize that discovering the manner and order of creation is truly awe-inspiring. To think that God has made us and Earth and the galaxy in a specific way and given us the ability to interact with our surroundings in a conscious manner is astounding. His thoughts are truly higher than our own, his imagination is incomprehensibly fuller than ours. We will never fully riddle out the mysteries of the universe, but how beautiful is it that God made us want to? He gave us curiosity and wonder. Creation was made for his glory, and we can only begin to understand that glory if we accept and embrace the complexities of nature. Our very creaturehood is based around our purpose: To worship God. Let us seek to do so to the best of our ability and pray for open hearts, curious minds, and bold imaginations.
Laura Cason has always been a beloved member of our community at The Wesley Foundation. She has always expressed herself in love, laughter, and life. We are so grateful to know and be loved by her through Jesus.