My wife and I used to live in the mountains west of Colorado Springs where we operated a Christian retreat center for many years. I had a favorite place on top of a huge outcrop of granite boulders that looked down upon our pond nestled in a serene, wooded glen, and the Florissant Valley beyond. From my lofty perch I could gaze upon a spectacular view of the stately Collegiate Peaks to the west and the magnificent Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range to the south. Few things stir one’s soul or refresh one’s perspectives than being surrounded by the indescribable beauty and majesty of God in such a place. It never grew old for me or failed to take my breath away, and I loved taking friends to see it.

A friend once described a similar place that he often went to soak in the beauty of God’s handiwork. He, too, often took friends to share the experience. They were always awestruck by the beauty and God’s greatness. On one occasion, however, a young man accompanied him who completely missed the awe and grandeur of the moment. Instead, throughout the entire experience he occupied himself by texting his girlfriend and playing a game on his iPhone. Even after a gentle suggestion that he put his iPhone away and enjoy the experience, not more than two minutes passed before his phone buzzed with another text message. Distracted once again, he missed the extraordinary glory and wonder of that moment that could have been his.

Perhaps you have experienced similar encounters with your grandchildren or others. It is so easy in today’s digital world to let ourselves be so absorbed with all the tech toys and media amusements available that we miss the real beauty and blessings of life God has for us. When we lose our ability to be enthralled with the wonder and beauty of God’s creation, we also miss seeing the beauty and grandeur of our Creator. Paul boldly asserts in chapter one of Romans that since the first day of creation “all God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

I have to admit that I am increasingly frustrated by the rude intrusions of chirping cell phones and distracted cell phone users, unlimited texting, and the endless menu of games and programs that consume and enslave us. There are times when all I can think of is C.S. Lewis’ profound observation that we are “like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are too easily pleased.” We are too easily pleased because we are too easily distracted by meaningless things counterfeits and miss out on the true pleasures available to us.So what’s a grandparent to do? How do we break through the technological force field that often engulfs our younger generations and help them discover the real thing—the glorious beauty of God and all that He has made for our enjoyment? How do we help them give up the mud pies for the things that are true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy?

I must admit that I am struggling to find some answers to these questions myself. So tell me, have any of my readers found something that work for you that you could share with the rest of us? I suggested in an earlier post about the value of encouraging reading books together. But what about some successful ideas you may have discovered and used in the realm of engaging young minds with the beauty and wonder of God’s creation? What have you done that seems to make a difference?

I’d like to hear your responses—and I think a lot of our readers would as well. Will you share some of your stories and experiences in which you have had some measure of success? Let’s learn from each other. It’s a very different world from when we were children with a different set of challenges. What has not changed are the conditions and needs of the human heart and our longing for that something more for which we were made by our Creator.I look forward to hearing what you have found that works.

GRANDPAUSE: An obstacle is often an unrecognized opportunity. –Unknown