Beauty

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Throughout my career, which has spanned missions to every planet, the sun, and our moon, I've had the unique privilege of witnessing the solar system’s beauty through the eyes of spacecraft. From the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado, where I've contributed to many significant missions since May 1978, my work has allowed me to explore the cosmos in ways few can imagine. This journey has not only been about the technical achievements of sending instruments millions of miles away but about uncovering the beauty of the cosmos that lies beyond our visible spectrum. Through the creation of instruments like the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) for the Cassini mission, we've peered into the ultraviolet light of the universe, revealing stunning images and false-color representations of celestial bodies even in wavelengths invisible to the naked eye.

This exploration has deepened my conviction that the beauty we observe in the universe, from the vibrant rings of Saturn to the dynamic storms of Jupiter—from our closest neighbor the moon to the far away galaxies—and the deep blue of Earth, is not a mere accident of nature. It speaks to a deeper truth about our existence and the nature of beauty itself. The images of Earth, rendered for the Footprints of God homepage, particularly the "earth-blue-marble" and "earth-night" textures derived from NASA photos, serve as a testament to the planet's awe-inspiring beauty. This beauty, visible from space during both day and night, is a constant reminder of the splendor that surrounds us—a splendor that I believe is God-given, reflecting our creation in the imago Dei, the image of God.

The appreciation of this beauty is not unique to those of us who have worked closely with NASA robotic space missions. Astronauts, who have had the unparalleled experience of viewing Earth from space, have almost universally expressed awe at its beauty. Their reflections offer profound insights into the impact of this experience on their understanding of our planet and our place in the universe.

Yuri Gagarin, upon becoming the first human to view Earth from space, exclaimed, "I see Earth! It is so beautiful!" His words encapsulate the immediate and overwhelming sense of wonder that comes from seeing our home planet suspended in the vastness of space.

And from the Apollo 8 mission, which provided a perspective from the moon, Bill Anders, the astronaut behind the iconic "Earthrise" photo, remarked, "We came all this way to explore the Moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth." His experience is echoed by the words of his companions that were with him on the Apollo 8 mission. Frank Borman, Apollo 8 commander commented on the Earthrise event said, "It was the most beautiful, heart-catching sight of my life, one that sent a torrent of nostalgia, of sheer homesickness surging through me. It was the only thing in space that had any color to it. Everything else was either black or white. But not the Earth." Jim Lovell, an astronaut on both Apollo 8 and 13, remarked, "The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth." It was fitting that during the live broadcast, heard throughout the world, that they took turns reading from the book of Genesis.

These sentiments are echoed by Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, who noted, "The view of Earth is spectacular. There is something about seeing your home planet from space that touches you in a way that is hard to describe." And again, by Kathryn D. Sullivan, NASA astronaut and the first woman to walk in space, who said, "It's hard to explain how amazing and magical this experience is. First of all, there's the visual aspect of it - seeing the Earth from that vantage point, which I never expected. Then there's the personal experience of actually doing a spacewalk. It is beautiful beyond anything I ever imagined."

And a more contemporary Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield, whose journeys to the International Space Station, led him to publish book of photos looking down on the Earth, which states inside the cover, “This planetary photo tour—surprising, playful, thought-provoking, and visually delightful—provides a breathtakingly beautiful perspective on the wonder of the world.” Yet another ISS astronaut, Ron Garan, who has gazed upon Earth from orbit, described it as "this amazing, indescribably beautiful planet...it looks like a living, breathing organism, but at the same time, it looks extremely fragile."

These reflections shared by astronauts, witnessing Earth's splendor from the unique vantage point of space, echo a universal appreciation for our planet's beauty—a beauty that, according to scriptures, has been inherent since the creation of the world. Those scriptural references, which scroll at the top of the homepage of Fingerprints of God, remind us that the ability to appreciate beauty is a divine gift, embedded within us from the beginning. It is striking to me that throughout the history of the mankind, the world, and the universe, that this beauty has been lying in wait for this time for it to be more fully appreciated. Why would the earth, the rest of the planets in the solar system, and indeed the rest of the cosmos that we are finally explorying through the Hubble Telescope and now the James Webb Space Telescope have be so beautiful for all this time - just waiting for us to discover them? How would time, chance, and random naturual consequences, even gigantic explosions and all the chaos that we see here on earth as forces of destruction, build such glory? And why would those same natural consequeces have given mankind the ability to appreciate it? Based on the experiences in my life, there is a one-word answer. God!

Transitioning from the cosmic vistas to the intricate beauty of Earth's own backyard, we find that the grandeur of space is but a prelude to God's artistry manifested in the diversity of life on our planet, which is almost vaster, and certainly more complex than that vastness of space. The work I've been privileged to do, peering into the far reaches of our solar system, serves as a constant reminder that the beauty we observe in the cosmos is mirrored, and even surpassed, by the majesty and variety of life forms crafted by God's spoken word. This realization adds to my engineering and scientific endeavors a deeper, spiritual quest to capture and share the splendor of God's creation through the lens of a camera.

The mission of Fingerprints of God is rooted in this very quest. It's about photographing wildlife in nature, capturing those fleeting moments where the divine brush strokes of creation are most evident. Whether it's the delicate symmetry of a butterfly's wings, the majestic stance of a deer in the forest, or the vibrant hues of a sunset that paints the sky, each photograph serves as a testament to God's ingenuity. The Earth and the universe around us, with their boundless beauty and complexity, are mere child's play for our Creator God, who brought forth ex nihilo (out of nothing) the near-infinite variety of life forms that exist in nature.

This website, and the blogs and future contributions it will host, are dedicated to sharing this sense of wonder and worship that arises when we truly observe the beauty of God's creation. It's a platform for all who find their inspiration in the natural world, for those who see in every leaf, every creature, every ripple in the water, a hymn of praise to God. The mission, vision, and values of Fingerprints of God are not just about showcasing the beauty of the natural world but about inspiring a deeper appreciation for the One who fashioned it with such care and creativity.

As we transition from the awe-inspiring images of distant planets and galaxies back to the Earth's own wonders, we are reminded that the same God who flung stars into space is the one who intricately designed the patterns on a moth's wing. This seamless continuity between the macrocosm of the universe and the microcosm of life on Earth invites us into a holistic view of creation, where every part, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, plays a role in the divine tapestry.

In capturing and sharing the beauty of wildlife and nature through photography, we engage in an act of worship, acknowledging God's work and sharing it with others. It's an invitation to pause, look closely, and see the Fingerprints of God in every aspect of creation. Through this endeavor, we hope not only to bring moments of beauty and joy to those who encounter these images but also to inspire a sense of responsibility to care for and preserve the masterpiece we've been entrusted with.

But I am not alone in my fasciation about beauty - both its existence but also how mankind can appreciate it. Kenneth Samples, at Reasons to Believe, delves into the realm of aesthetics from a theistic perspective, and he posits that our response to beauty—whether it's the awe-inspiring vastness of space, the intricate patterns of nature, or the profound depths of art and music—raises significant questions about the origins and purpose of our aesthetic sensibilities. He argues that the appreciation of beauty is not merely an evolutionary adaptation but a reflection of the divine, a means through which we can connect with something greater than ourselves. Samples points out that this perspective is supported by the observations of skeptical philosopher Paul Draper, who acknowledges, "[T]heism is supported by the fact that the universe contains an abundance of beauty," and "[A] beautiful universe, especially one containing beings that can appreciate that beauty, is clearly more likely on theism than on naturalism."

This acknowledgment from Draper highlights a critical point of contention between theistic and naturalistic explanations for the human appreciation of beauty. While naturalistic viewpoints offer insights into the evolutionary origins of our aesthetic preferences, suggesting that our appreciation for certain landscapes or traits may have been shaped by survival and reproductive advantages, they struggle to account for the full depth of human experience with beauty. The profound, often transcendent experiences elicited by beauty—experiences that move us emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually—pose a challenge to strictly materialistic explanations.

In another Reasons to Believe blog, Fazale Rana's exploration of the origins of our aesthetic sense, the most compelling argument presented is the idea that the pervasive beauty in the universe and our innate capacity to appreciate it align more convincingly with the notion of divine creation rather than random evolutionary processes. Rana highlights philosopher Richard Swinburne's perspective that a universe crafted by a Creator would inherently possess beauty, a characteristic unlikely to be as pronounced or even present in a universe that emerged without purpose or design. This argument underscores the profound connection between the existence of beauty in the world and the existence of a divine Creator, suggesting that our deep-seated appreciation for beauty is not an accidental by-product of evolution but a reflection of our being made in the image of God, designed to recognize and revel in the beauty of creation.

In contrast, naturalists like Denis Dutton have even passionately explored the idea that our appreciation of art and beauty has deep evolutionary roots, arguing that artistic creativity and aesthetic appreciation may have served as indicators of intelligence and desirable traits in a mate. However, this perspective, while delivered in a convincing and an entertaining way, his plausible framework for understanding certain aspects of human behavior falls short in explaining the universal human response to beauty in all its forms. It does not fully address the moments when beauty moves us to a profound appreciation for life itself, inspires acts of sacrificial love, or compels us to ponder our place in the cosmos.

In another compelling exploration of the evolutionary origins of beauty and our aesthetic sense, the intricate courtship rituals of the male flame bowerbird serve as a vivid illustration that challenges traditional assumptions about animal behavior and the utilitarian view of evolution. These birds meticulously construct and decorate elaborate structures, or bowers, with an array of colorful objects to attract mates, engaging in complex dances and displays that seem to serve no purpose other than to appeal to the aesthetic preferences of their potential partners. This behavior, emblematic of what Darwin proposed as sexual selection, suggests that beauty and the appreciation thereof may evolve not merely as indicators of advantageous traits for survival but as expressions of arbitrary preference. Darwin's theory, revived by modern biologists, posits that sometimes beauty is the glorious flowering of arbitrary preference, pushing animals toward aesthetic extremes independent of survival utility. This perspective challenges the long-held belief that all aspects of natural selection are geared towards utilitarian ends, proposing instead that the appreciation of beauty, both in humans and in the animal kingdom, can be an engine of evolution in its own right. The bowerbird's courtship, transcending mere survival advantage, exemplifies how beauty and the acts of creating and appreciating it are fundamental aspects of nature that may not always be explained by a direct link to fitness or utility but as a profound interaction between beings, shaping evolution in unexpected ways.

But don't you see what is happening here? They are going outside of the long-held tenants of evolution trying to find an explanation for beauty in nature without stepping into a theistic worldview. I wonder how "arbitrary preferences" can ultimately create a favoring of selection of natural beauty any more than time, chance, and natural causes can create the complexity and beauty that has already been described in this blog. The emperor may have new clothes, but he has nothing on!

In the vast canvas of the universe, from the swirling galaxies to the microcosm of a blooming flower, we witness a symphony of beauty that transcends mere survival and functionality. This beauty, which captivates our senses and stirs our souls, points us towards something—or Someone—greater than ourselves. It's in the awe-inspiring vastness of space, the intricate patterns of nature, and the profound depths of art and music that we find echoes of God's majesty, and a reflection of His omnipotence and omniscience.

The hymn "How Great Thou Art" captures this sentiment perfectly, weaving a thread of awe and worship through the recognition of God's handiwork in the world around us. The first stanza alone, "O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made," invites us to marvel at the universe's beauty, a beauty that has been an integral part of creation from the very beginning.

Yet, our appreciation for beauty is not limited to the natural world. It extends to the beauty found in acts of sacrificial love and kindness, which challenge the cold logic of Darwin's survival of the fittest. The simplicity and sacrificial giving of individuals like Mother Teresa, the courage of those who risk their lives for others, and the instinctual love of a mother for her child—these acts of selflessness resonate with the biblical principle that it is better to lay down one's life for another.

This principle finds its ultimate expression in Christ's sacrifice on the cross, a testament to the depth of God's love for us. As we approach Easter, we are reminded of the profound truths found in the Bible and the historical fact of Christ's resurrection. This event is not just a cornerstone of Christian faith but a powerful affirmation of love and sacrifice as the highest forms of beauty and expression.

Integrating this perspective with the awe inspired by "How Great Thou Art," we see a holistic view of beauty that encompasses both the grandeur of the cosmos and the depth of God's love. The hymn's chorus, "Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art," becomes a personal declaration of wonder and gratitude for all that God has done and continues to do.

In conclusion, the beauty that fills the universe and our lives is a gift from God, designed to lead us to a greater appreciation of His work and to foster a deeper connection with Him. This appreciation, deeply ingrained within us, enriches our lives, offering moments of joy, wonder, and reflection that underscore the profound truth of our existence: we are made in the image of God who is the source of all beauty. As we capture and share the splendor of God's creation, from the vast reaches of space to the intimate beauty of Earth's flora and fauna, we participate in an act of worship, acknowledging the greatness of God and His love for us.

Let the beauty of the universe, the acts of sacrificial love we witness and perform, and the hymns of praise we sing, remind us of God's majesty and His call to live in awe, gratitude, and responsibility. May our souls ever sing, "How great Thou art," as we journey through this life, inspired by the beauty that surrounds us and moved by the ultimate expression of love witnessed at the cross.