Then sings my soul

Excuse the lateness of this mostly New Zealand themed post.  I found this line running through my head almost constantly on the trip.  Hope friends will be familiar with the chorus, "then sings my soul, to my Savior God, to Thee we sing, how great Thou art."  How could I not, surrounded by such beautiful creation, by God Himself?  That is probably the number one way that I experience God, through creation.  My soul was ever so happy in New Zealand.  I got to be around people who were happy to be with me.  I got to ride around in the car and just feast on rolling green fields, bright peaceful blue water, and tall dark hills.  So different from the life I normally live.  So through all of that I finally figured out why I don't like that Michigan is flat and why I love seeing my mountains so much when I'm home.  Mountains make me feel small.  Mountains remind me that God is so much bigger, that I don't stand a chance against Him.  Mountains don't change either.  When I fly home Mt. Rainier is always there to welcome me on the way in, always.  Just like God is there, always.  "For God has said, never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" (Heb. 13:5).  I grew up in hilly and mountainous terrain, and the flatness of Michigan still kinda freaks me out sometimes.  I've made a home for myself here but its with the people and places of Hope, not with the scenery.  (I do love the lake though).  I feel to big, too stretched out, too uncontained.  I feel protected having high peaks around me.  Its just what I'm used to.  Being around my kind of landscape is something that fills my soul incredibly full.  My soul sings.  That is God to me.  So this is something I figured out about myself in New Zealand.  I think we all need these experiences with ourselves- that show us who God is to us and maybe no one else.  In a time and generation where experiences are considered worthless if not shared with others, it is especially important.  God loves each of us so. closely.  So intimately. He made us who we are, exactly who we are, flaws and all, and He knows exactly how to speak to us in ways that we understand, if only we are willing to listen.  So sings my soul.