new step in their continued evolution (from incandescent to LED bulb, for
instance) is also driven by a new idea. Evolution on the material plane is an
effect of evolution on the spiritual plane.
Moreover, the initial ideas for advances in human technology are often
based on something seen in nature; in fact, it seems to be the general rule.
Human inventiveness mimics nature’s. The design of the human arm preceded
that of the swing-arm desk lamp which was based upon it.
So what is the source of nature’s genius? It, too, is a product of spiritual
intelligence, that is, the Divine wisdom of its Creator. And God is supremely
Human: “It is impossible for angels to think of God in any other way.” (Divine
Love and Wisdom 11) This is why the natural world is such a rich source of
prototypes for human inventions.
There are countless examples. Here is one from an on-line NBC News
report: “The Pentagon is pouring millions of dollars into the development of
tiny drones inspired by biology – such as the hummingbird – each equipped
with video and audio equipment that can record sights and sounds.”
And another: “Imagine a raincoat that heals a scratch by shedding the
part of the outer layer that’s damaged. To create such a material, scientists have
turned to nature for inspiration. They report a water-repellent material that
molts like a snake’s skin when damaged to reveal another hydrophobic layer
beneath it.” (ScienceDaily.com, May 17, 2017)
In nature we find not just the materials we need to sustain our natural
lives, but also ideas for using those materials in new ways. Sustainability?
Recycling? Organically grown food? Nature already does it.
(WEO)
even nature looks beyond nature
We are natural creatures living in the natural world, but also, and more
essentially, we are spiritual creatures preparing for life in the spiritual world.
Nature is designed to serve us in both respects.
The things it provides for our natural existence (food, clothing and shelter)
are obvious. But it also serves our spiritual development in various ways. For
one thing, we constantly have to use our mind and will power to overcome
the limits imposed upon us by nature – both the natural world around us and
the limitations of our own natural bodies. No other creature struggles against
nature the way we do.
And we need to overcome, not just the physical obstacles of life in the
natural world, but the errors that arise in our minds when we base our thought
only on what appears in nature. To become truly human and think spiritually,
we have to rise above naturalism or a materialistic idea of creation. Again, no
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