Behold the Lilies

"What a lovely small book, and what a powerful antidote to Twitter, Facebook, and all the rest. To be immersed in the world around us is one of the greatest of gifts!"

--Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth



"H. Paul Santmire's Behold the Lilies is shocking theology. In a day when theology is responding to crises on every side, up and down, he commands us (as Jesus did) to look at creation and see its beauty, God's beauty, in nature. The power of beauty to move us is greater than the power of worry, fear, and rage at injustice to draw us into a more graceful relation to God, nature, and each other. Santmire's beautiful meditations are among the beauties through which we are brought into a better state as good creatures."

--Robert Cummings Neville, Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Theology, Boston University; author of Seasons of the Christian Life



"By contemplating the lilies as Jesus would ask us to, our creator God shines through the beauty of nature. Veteran theologian of nature H. Paul Santmire evokes in his reader wonder, awe, and grace."

--Ted Peters, coeditor, Theology and Science and Nurture in Time and Eternity



"One of the pioneers of Christian eco-theology, H. Paul Santmire has blessed us with a delightful new book. As the subtitle indicates, it is full of wise reflections on following Jesus and contemplating the natural world. How do we take seriously the summons to behold the world around us? Paul shows us how. Insightful, honest, hope-filled, and engagingly written. I highly recommend it."

--Steven Bouma-Prediger, author of For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care