Living Books

November 15, 2006 we made a discovery of national significance in our homeschool.

Or so we thought! Australia is a country where the Hummingbird is not known. On this day we observed what appeared to be a tiny bird, hovering and flying backwards. The children and I gathered and watched in awe and wonderment as this tiny creature whizzed past us and around our Happy plant, feeding from its flowers.

I wasn’t sure if I could trust my eyes when my daughter said “Mum, it flew backwards!” Excitement welled up inside of me, as I know there is only one bird that flies backwards! And I knew that it was the hummingbird. I explained to my children the significance of our sighting.

I had first seen a hummingbird in Tennessee and then later in Colarado, when we visited the USA several years ago. It was their spring at the time. And November is still spring here! I checked with internet sites and was pleased to find that drab hummingbirds do exist. So the colour was right.

I made phone calls to the national bird society, and then the department of wildlife. I called the local newspaper and they agreed to send their photographer.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:4, “Take heed that no man deceive you!”

Thanks to Fraser Coast Chronicle’s high resolution photograph taken from a 8 megapixel Nikon D2HS, we were able to actually see that our “hummingbird” had moth identifying features. Rather than being privy to an exclusive Australian Hummingbird sighting we had been watching a little known moth. The Bee Hawk moth has hummingbird-like characteristics and is now known as the hummingbird moth in this family. This taught us that we can not trust our own senses. We even had eyewitnesses who agreed with our conclusion, until they too saw the photographs!

Lessons from Nature

In the face of what may be tangible evidence or popular consensus, the only safety is in total reliance on God’s Word. Only by carefully examining its teaching and comparing with it, can we be saved from overwhelming deception. Our hummingbird moth became a perfect illustration of a deep and important Biblical truth.

Two thousand years ago, when Jesus walked on earth, He, the world’s greatest Teacher, used the seen to illustrate the unseen. This was His favourite method of teaching. He connected the everyday commonplace objects of life with eternal truths. The birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the sower and the seed, the shepherd and the sheep--with these Christ illustrated immortal truth. He drew illustrations also from the events of life, facts of experience familiar to the hearers--the leaven, the hid treasure, the pearl, the fishing net, the lost coin, the prodigal son, the houses on the rock and the sand. In His lessons there was something to interest every mind, to appeal to every heart. In this way the everyday duties were brightened and uplifted by constant reminders of the spiritual and the unseen.

This feature was also employed by Bible writers before Christ’s earthly advent. Under the inspiration of the holy Spirit, Old Testament prophets wrote of Israel as a vine. Amos was shown a basket of summer fruit for the purpose of illustration. And there are many more.

In our home educating, the same technique is available to us. Among homeschoolers ‘living books’ is a catch phrase and is used in reference to literature, but the real living book is nature. To read it right, phonics is not the key! To learn its lessons correctly we need to pray for the illumination of God’s Spirit. The existence of thorns and blight can only be understand in the light of the Genesis 3 story. This is one reason why God gave us His written word. Since the fall of man, nature is no longer a perfect revelation of God. Nature must be studied together with the Scriptures.

Consider

Jesus said “Consider the lilies.” According to my Strong’s Concordance, the original meaning for the word translated “consider” is to “learn thoroughly.” Jesus is giving us a mandate for teaching from nature! And what in particular is He wanting us to learn from the lilies? He speaks of where and how they grow, drawing a comparison between the simple flower and the illustrious king Solomon. He teaches us an important spiritual lesson in connection with the grasses and flowers, of faith. The Master Teacher then sums up the whole with Matthew 6:33,which is the key note for the Christian walk. From now on the lilies would remind his hearers to seek God and to trust Him to care for them!

As educators and parents we need to take note. How can we duplicate Christ’s method?

The first thing to note is that Jesus spoke of objects that were right in front of him. In most circumstances, we all have access to nature. Our family lives in a rural setting and we have kangaroos, a river, mangroves, moths and more - right at our doorstep. Even if you live in a suburban environment, there is nature around you. There will be ants for sure and they alone supply many lessons! There will be also other insects, grass, plants, birds and the sky above. You can grow plants indoors, have a fish tank, and it is easy enough to find moths in your wardrobes or spiders in your corners!!

Nature Journals

In our homeschool, we start off by engaging pencils, rubbers and paper in our nature journals. We draw. We colour our drawings. ( I provide my children with the best quality colour pencils I can afford as they are a tool not a toy.) The most natural progression after this is labelling. We refer to books to learn either technical names or facts.

This whole process is calming and very enjoyable. There is observation going on as well as art, writing and research. I look out for mathematical patterns as well in leaf configuration, petal arrangement etc. We measure or sometimes guesstimate, as in the case of flying creatures. Some plant species are the source for essential oils, so we crush leaves and smell them. If relevant, we research their medicinal properties and applications. When labeling, I expect accuracy, correct spelling and legibility. This becomes a group activity as we admire each other’s work, talk about the scientific aspects of the object under consideration and then discuss, with Bibles in hand, what Scripture verses could be appropriately connected with our nature study. My children have copied a verse of their choosing on their page. This can be further developed with more writing taking place, depending on the age or ability of the children.

Extra Resources

Buy the relevant field guides. Refer to these freely. It is important to remember that the only unquestionable authority in teaching even things of a scientific nature is the Word of God. Teach your children this respect for God’s authority and it will be a foundation for them when confronted by theories that deny the validity of the Bible.

From my earliest child raising years, we used correct terms for what the children observed. My 5 year old son knew pollination was taking place when he saw bees in a flower and he knew the word too. Whenever possible I have tried to use the identifying names of plants. The children from an early age spoke of petunias and phlox and lavender rather than pink and purple flowers. If as parents we are interested in nature, it will be natural for our children to be also.

Frequently we will stop what we are doing, grab the Reader’s Digest Birds of Australia Field Guide and watch the Jabiru, the Pelicans, Eagles, Ibis, Drongo or whatever other bird God has sent us to learn from. Occasionally we have used our binoculars too, although for study purposes, what we can see up close works best.

The children have also learnt to read nature’s signals. We have found that the appearance of flying ants or snakes heralds the approach of rain. (This may not be verified in a book and is our own observation which may be specific only to our location in Australia.) Jesus spoke of this when he referred to the foliage of the fig tree to tell that summer was near. So we can tell by the signs of our time, when they are compared with Scripture, that Jesus’ return is very near.

I will admit it is very difficult to draw birds in flight so we are not averse to drawing our birds from existing illustrations in books. Let this be a life long pleasure! One parent we knew, who encouraged his son in bird watching from early childhood was delighted when his son became a world renowned biologist. Sadly, because the spiritual aspect of learning from nature was omitted, this son is also a famous evolutionist. Hence the instruction to learn thoroughly; facts alone are not enough.

Going Deeper

Let us give our children the kernel and not just the husk. Pray for spiritual discernment to see the deeper lessons and then teach them to your children. Direct the thoughts from the creature to the Creator. Note the shades, the contours that God chose. Impress on your children that there is a mind behind the landscape. It didn't just happen! Frequently refer to the Biblical story of creation reminding that the One that hung the world in space and that spoke all things into existence, with His hands created the parents of our race and then gave His own life for our redemption. Let our little ones see God as He is: full of love and kindness for them individually.

The Sabbath is another God given opportunity to learn of our Heavenly Father through nature. It is a day where we can take more time to stop, to touch and be in awe.

Isaac Newton, the modern age's greatest scientist wrote, “The more I study nature the more I stand amazed at the works of the Creator. I pray while I am engaged at my work in the laboratory.” *

In the study and appreciation of nature, rightly taught, our children will see the goodness, the genius and the generosity of nature's Creator as you use the seen to illustrate the unseen. You too, will make significant discoveries as you see nature illustrating Bible truth.

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*The Education that Educates 118

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