[God] is the beauty behind all beauty.  Steve DeWitt

美好的一切皆源于美善的上帝。

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1

诸天述说上帝的荣耀。穹苍传扬祂的手段。-诗篇19篇1节

I came across a solitary flower growing in a meadow today—a tiny purple blossom “wasting its sweetness in the desert air,” to borrow from the poet Thomas Gray’s wonderful line. I’m sure no one had seen this particular flower before, and perhaps no one will see it again. Why this beauty in this place? I thought.

这一天，我到郊外散步，经过一个近乎干涸的池塘，发现一朵独自盛开的莲花。我不禁想起清朝诗人王文治的诗句：“方塘水静无风动，一朵白莲随意开。”我相信很少人会看到这朵花，也无人欣赏。我心想，既是如此，为何要在这样的地方展现芳华？

Nature is never wasted. It daily displays the truth, goodness, and beauty of the One who brought it into being. Every day nature offers a new and fresh declaration of God’s glory. Do I see Him through that beauty, or do I merely glance at it and shrug it off in indifference?

其实大自然的美从来就不是一种浪费，而是日复一日地展示着那位造物主的真实、良善与美好。每一天，大自然都以崭新鲜活的方式宣告上帝的荣耀，但对于大自然的美，我能否从中看见上帝呢？或是匆匆一瞥，耸耸肩不以为意呢？

All nature declares the beauty of the One who made it. Our response can be worship, adoration, and thanksgiving—for the radiance of a cornflower, the splendor of a morning sunrise, the symmetry of one particular tree.

自然万物都在传扬造物主的美善。一朵灿烂的雏菊、辉煌的日出，或一棵树所展现的对称之美，都可以让我们向上帝献上敬拜、尊崇和感恩。

Author C. S. Lewis describes a walk in the forest on a hot summer day. He had just asked his friend how best to cultivate a heart thankful toward God. His hiking companion turned to a nearby brook, splashed his face and hands in a little waterfall, and asked, “Why not begin with this?” Lewis said he learned a great principle in that moment: “Begin where you are.”

作家鲁益师曾提到，在一个炎热的夏天，他与朋友在森林中散步。鲁益师问他的朋友，要培养一颗感恩的心最好的方法是什么？他的朋友就从路旁的小溪里，取了一点水泼在自己的脸上和手上，并说：“何不就从这里开始？”鲁益师说就在那一刻，他学到了一个重要的原则：“从这里开始。”

A trickling waterfall, the wind in the willows, a baby robin, the blue sky, a tiny flower. Why not begin your thankfulness with this?

涓涓细流、柳枝摇曳、雏鸟初啼，莲花盛开，多美好啊！何不从这里开始向上帝献上感恩呢？

Psalm 136:1-9New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

整理：于姊妹