In my quest to find wholesome TV shows to watch, I stumbled upon “Anne with an E” on Netflix. (Note, I’m usually not fond of Netflix, but they have “The Great British Baking Show,” so I subscribe.) As I watched, I wondered how close to the book, Anne of Green Gables, the show really was. I read the book and discovered it was as close as a TV show can be.
The thing that caught my attention was the way Anne has of rejoicing in the world around her.
***
“The world looks like something God had just imagined for His own pleasure, doesn’t it?
Those trees look as if I could blow them away with a breath–pouf!
I’m so glad I live in a world where there are white frosts, aren’t you?”
***
“What a splendid day!’ said Anne, drawing a long breath.
‘Isn’t it good just to be alive on a day like this?
I pity the people who aren’t born yet for missing it.
They may have good days, of course, but they can never have this one.”
***
“Dear old world’, she murmured, ‘you are very lovely,
and I am glad to be alive in you.”
***
Joy is infectious. As I read, I found myself enjoying and rejoicing in the world around me, too, noticing beauty everywhere. It was there all along. All I needed was a nudge to start. And from there, it was a short step to seeing God in everything, everywhere.
***
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky.
Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—
his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Romans 1:20 NLT