The Larger Book

The ninth century Celtic theologian, Scotus Eriugena, taught there were two sacred books.  One was the holy scripture which he called the little book and the second was the creation which is called the larger book.  It is easy enough to read the little book, but the larger book of creation might require a few reading lessons.  Most of us have difficulty seeing what seems to be hidden, or what our eyes and ears tell us cannot be seen or heard.  Learning to read what the eyes cannot see at first glance is something which requires both a willingness to enter the silence and a heart that is open to what has previously been invisible.    

To consider this second book as being a sacred book put in place for us by the Spirit seems like a far stretch for many.  To many the creation is not about sacred truths being revealed and spoken, but about the science and logic.  And, of course, trees have no voice and the earth and all that is a part of it have been put here to serve and provide for the survival of humankind.  With such a limited view of all that is around us it is easy to understand how some can look a life time and never really experience holy presence in the created world which surrounds them.     

The little book teaches that the earth belongs to the Lord.  Everything in it bears His imprint.  Everything He created He called good, some of it very good.  In the letter to the Roman Christians, the Word says, "Ever since the creation of the world His eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been seen and understood and seen through the things He has made..."   (Romans 1:20)  The creation is not here simply to provide for those of us who walk in it, or to create beautiful sunsets, but also to provide for us a means through which we can encounter the One who created it.