December 9, 2025

Perspective of Peace

By Melissa Harris

I love being in nature. Nothing brings me more glee than seeing dew drops on forest leaves as morning songbirds warble tunes. I love seeing butterflies warm their wings in sunlight beams atop meadow thistles. It’s so idyllic; it’s so glorious. Peace bubbles float within my soul.

I take out my camera to snap a reminder of this peace of creation. I, too, want to create something profound or lovely or beautiful. 

I frame my shot of the dew drops. How many microscopic life forms are in this small circle of water? How many insects or plants will benefit from its existence? Is it the refreshing drink the bird needs after its morning song? Will a deer or bear be rehydrated for its day of foraging?

I walk along and see a golden butterfly perched on purple thistle spikes. I wonder if I can get a photograph before it alights. I can. Its wings seem damp, in need of the sun’s energy to make them flutter in the expected frenzy. The butterfly flexes and stretches each wing, rotating to get the light’s full benefit.

Why do I love taking pictures? Why do I feel such peace and joy?

This little insect seems so inconsequential in the scheme of things. In this mountain canyon meadow there are many butterflies doing this same thing with uncountable grass blades and flower stems all around. In this state in this Rocky Mountain region, the dew drops and butterflies I see are so miniscule. Like these moments. All so tiny on this planet, in this galaxy, in this universe.

And yet the bugs do their things. The birds sing their songs. The microbes work frantically finding food to survive in this very busy, very complex ecosystem. The nearby river rushes with such energy and expectancy, running as lifeblood through this arid western country.

I see new perspectives through my lens. I can feel a peace of understanding. Like a little baby born to a young, faithful mother and bewildered, humble father centuries ago amidst a town bustling with people present to be counted. A small, precious infant boy appearing as Peace, knowing the sin He came to defeat was swarming all around. 

The Peace is now in each of us. Here, in whatever valley we flutter through to warm our own wings or do whatever we have to do each day in our rapid river of survival, Immanuel is our perspective of peace. He is that great – that infinite and that intimate – with each of us.