Struck by the Spectacle
When I was once visiting Toronto, I spoke in the kollel of our institutions Yismach Moshe, which is under the auspices of Rav Prospert Lugassi, shlita. After the speech, I was offered a trip to the renowned site of Niagara Falls. These waterfalls are extremely beautiful and fall from tremendous heights. All onlookers are mesmerized by this natural phenomenon.
I had never before seen anything so spectacular. Out of a sense of enthusiasm, I proclaimed loudly the blessing of, “He Who renews the Creation.”
As I watched the waters, I reflected on their significance. These waters, which fall with such ferocity and noise, from hundreds of meters, began falling during the six days of Creation and continue to this very day, without letup. No eye has ever observed such an exalted scene, which confirms, “How great are Your works, Hashem!”
- At Niagara Falls
There were thousands of other tourists viewing the scene just as I was. But they saw it with different eyes. They snapped pictures and then went home to their daily routine. To them, this was merely another beautiful sight of nature. But they did not bother to use their faculties to really experience it. About them, the pasuk says (Tehillim 115:5-6), “They have eyes but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear.”
One who uses his eyes and ears to observe Hashem’s wonders will never, for a moment, think that nature has no Creator. Its very essence declares faith in Hashem. When I arrived at this conclusion, my mouth began uttering the passage (Tehillim 104), “Bless Hashem, O my soul.” I praised Hashem for the fine nuances which define Creation. I praised him for the distinction between man and beast, for the great luminaries, for the sea and its borders. I continued thanking the One Who spoke and the world came into being.
