I’d like to say that I really appreciate Greg and the message he shared on Wednesday- he shared some interesting information that points to the truth in creation. I agree with Greg that I’ve really enjoyed the devotions and classes we’ve had at church over the years that have been solid in apologetics. Looking at how with each passing generation less and less people are staying in the faith, it’s clear that people are increasingly struggling with some serious doubts. So I think it’s really important that we continue to address areas where doubt can arise- so those who are doubting can see the truth of scripture is everywhere (even in science!)

About a year and a half ago I requested a biography on John Muir from the library…and then with Covid the library stopped accepting returns and long story short I just finally got it a few weeks ago. It is so great! I’m finding it hard to hold in all the fun Muir facts I’m learning- because I think the guy is just fascinating, but I think people in my life are perhaps less fascinated by the information I’ve got to share. He was an American naturalist in the civil war era when people still communicated by writing letters. The book I’ve got is filled with his correspondence with friends and family, and it’s just beautiful. Oh how far we’ve come…today my most common interactions with friends and family are by text, void of punctuation and littered with emojis. John Muir wrote pages to his friends filled with detail and poetic descriptions, talked about the general day-to-day as well as the thoughts and feelings he held deep inside, and at the end of many of these long letters he’d often end it with an, “I’ll write you again tomorrow.” Just beautiful. And while he was an accomplished inventor and environmentalist he also had a deep faith which is present in so many of his letters and writings. I love reading his writing about about nature because he was so passionate about it, and frequently attributed nature’s beauty to God. "Oh, these vast, calm, measureless mountain days, inciting at once to work and rest! Days in whose light everything seems equally divine, opening a thousand windows to show us God. Nevermore, however weary, should one faint by the way who gains the blessings of one mountain day; whatever his fate, long life, short life, stormy or calm, he is rich forever.” I find God in nature as well, and sometimes when I’m in the middle of it, I look around at creation and my doubts melt away… because when you really sit and experience creation it’s just so plain to see.

Muir lived in a time when Darwin was still relatively new. And while he was influenced by the theories, he ultimately still believed in a Creator. This biography also made mention of another Geologist and Paleontologist at the time saying, “Nathaniel S. Shaler, who passed through the same period of readjustment as Muir, confessed that his first contact with natural science in his youth and early manhood had the not uncommon effect of leading him far away from Christianity and that in later years a further insight into the truths of nature had gradually forced him back again to the ground from which he had departed.” How true that some areas of science seem to fill us with much doubt and draw many away- I think it’s amazing that this individual came back to his belief. One thing I pray for my kids every night is that their doubts will only lead them closer to God. Doubting will happen, I can’t control that. To lose faith is the worst case scenario for me, but to take those doubts and learn from them and be drawn closer to God- that would only strengthen your faith.

So I think it’s good to share your doubts with someone, because I see it as an opportunity to strengthen your faith. As Sean Finnegan says on his Restitutio podcast, “The truth has nothing to fear.” God is present in all areas, there’s no topic that you need to fear he’s not present in. There is a truth waiting for you in your doubts, but you might need to talk about them to get the answers you need. I’m sure that any number of people would be open to talking with you about doubts you’ve got. If, for example, science is a sticking point for you I’d volunteer Greg as a great option.