A Prayer for Noticing More - Your Daily Prayer - September 13 

A Prayer for Noticing More
By Tammy Darling

Bible Reading
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1, NIV

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I’m often told I notice things others do not. If they mean that I see what others often overlook or walk right by, then I suppose they are correct.

Until it was pointed out to me, I never thought much about the way I observed the world around me. I do tend to look at things in a slow, deliberate manner. It never occurred to me that not everyone does.

I’m on a lifelong adventure to discover beauty and wonder wherever I can. Something as simple as photographing a bee on a flower, both covered in pollen, brings a smile to my face. And spying a “walking stick” on a wooden bench…bonus!

A life of noticing goes beyond and truly sees. With purpose. Intentionality. To see. To observe. To consider. A life lived on autopilot is not the life of one who truly embraces the abundant life Christ brought us.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” These words attributed to Albert Einstein are profound. I’ve learned so much by noticing, observing, asking questions, and photographing nature.

To experience God’s world fully is to notice. Sleepwalking through nature is apathy at its finest. But to notice, to observe closely…that’s intentional, proactive living. That’s gratitude in action.

Here’s a life-changing concept to consider: being more involved in life while you’re living it. Not looking for the next big thing. (Unless, of course, you’re on a whale watching tour. Then, by all means, look for the next big thing!) It’s not just going through the motions. It’s actually living life in the present tense. Participating. Noticing. Observing. Engaging.

Being a "noticer" isn’t an exclusive title. Anyone can take notice and experience the outdoors in a whole new way. It’s a choice to slow down and notice and observe what’s around you on a deeper level.

To become a "noticer," an observer of nature, one must take in what’s going on around them. When I recently went to a local state park, the first thing I did upon exiting the vehicle was to quickly scan the area around me for as far as I could see in all directions, looking for any sign of movement.

After the quick scan, I began to zero in, to look more closely. My observation skills were rewarded: up in a tree, not moving, was an osprey. Had I not deliberately put my observation skills to work, I would never have seen the osprey, as I had originally planned to walk the other way.

On another occasion, my sister nearly sat on a snake. Not just any snake, but a large adult copperhead. Why? Because she wasn’t noticing. She wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings. It pays to pay attention!

When you take the time to truly notice things, you sharpen your observation skills. Sitting outside on a summer day, I noticed something “off” on my thigh. I have some scattered freckles and even a few small scars I’ve picked up along the way, but as small as this was, it still seemed out of place.

I was right. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it was a deer tick just beginning to embed itself in my leg. I quickly ran for the blue Dawn dishwashing liquid, which drew the tick out, and I was able to remove the tick completely. Had my observation skills not been engaged, I may have missed that minuscule deer tick; those noticing skills may have prevented future Lyme disease.

If you want to hone your noticing skills, begin to delight in the everyday. Look at the same old thing with new eyes, with eyes of wonder. See what you’ve never seen before. Before you blow that dandelion puff ball and scatter the seeds, study it up close. Look at the intricate pattern and be amazed. Photograph it. Sketch it. Paint it. Whatever your creative gift is, capture it.

Learn to engage your other senses. Observation involves more than just sight. What are you hearing? Smelling? Where’s the focus? When I spotted the osprey in the tree and noticed it wasn’t moving, I followed its line of sight and realized it was fixed on a pair of Canada geese along the creek.

A closer look here, a curiosity there, and before you know it, you’re noticing things that you previously overlooked. Nature becomes a magnificent mystery just waiting to be revealed, bit by breathtaking bit. Suddenly, you’re living with expectation and wonderment…all attributed to our Great God.

Because there are so many benefits to noticing on a heightened level, I don’t mind being referred to as “the noticer.” I’ll gladly accept that as a compliment. I want to notice and closely observe all I can. And in noticing, I know my life will be better for it, for every encounter draws me closer to God.

Let’s Pray

God of Creation,

We join with the chorus in heaven and cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3, NIV). We are grateful for Your majesty all around us. May we have eyes to see, ears to hear.

Our hearts are grateful and full of awe. May we increasingly notice the gifts of Creation all around us as we traverse through this life of abundance that You have blessed us with.

With grateful hearts we pray, Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Ray Hennessy

Tammy Darling is the author of 1,600 published articles and three books. She writes from her home in rural Pennsylvania.

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