Speaking Life: God's Word Shaped Our World

As a college student at Olivet Nazarene University, I never would have guessed that a geology class would profoundly shape my understanding of faith. A junior majoring in Elementary Education, I hadn’t yet chosen my minor when I walked into Dr. Max Reams’ classroom. What began as a simple course requirement became a transformative journey that has influenced not only my career path but my entire approach to faith and science.

Growing up in the church, we often build invisible walls between science and faith, treating them as if they’re fundamentally incompatible with each other. We learn, through subtle cues and sometimes direct instruction, that we must choose between believing in God and accepting scientific discovery. Between trusting the Bible and understanding evolution. My experience in that first Geology class shattered these artificial boundaries forever.

I remember sitting in Dr. Reams’ class as we discussed the age of the Earth and the formation of rock layers. Every time my hand shot up with a question, I felt a familiar twinge of guilt–these were the kinds of questions I’d learned to keep to myself in church, the ones that had gathered dust in the corners of my mind because I feared they might somehow damage my faith.

But Dr. Reams did more than just answer my questions. He saw me–really saw me–in those moments of uncertainty and curiosity. When I voiced my doubts, his eyes would light up with genuine interest. He didn’t just tolerate my questions; he celebrated them. Each time I gathered the courage to voice another doubt or uncertainty, he met me with enthusiasm and respect. He showed me that these questions weren’t just acceptable–they were valuable, essential steps on the path to deeper understanding.

Through his guidance, I discovered that my questions weren’t signs of weak faith but rather invitations to explore the magnificent complexity of God’s creation. On our geology field trips, as we examined fossils embedded in roadside outcrops, Dr. Reams taught me to read the stories written in stone. Each fossil we uncovered revealed delicate imprints of ancient life preserved in layers of Earth’s history. With each discovery, my faith didn’t diminish–it expanded, deepened, grew more nuanced and real.

Because here’s what Dr. Reams helped me understand: God isn’t threatened by our questions. He’s not intimidated by carbon dating or geological timelines or evolutionary biology. The God I’ve come to know through both Scripture and science is far bigger than our human attempts to put him in a box. Dr. Reams showed me that seeking understanding through science could be an act of worship, a way of appreciating the intricate details of God’s creation.

When we study the precise mathematical constants that govern our universe, observe the complex dance of ecosystems, or examine the sophisticated mechanisms of life at the molecular level, we’re not threatening our faith. We’re deepening our appreciation for the Creator’s handiwork. These aren’t random accidents; they’re signatures of a God who delights in detail, who creates with both purpose and artistry.

Dr. Reams taught me that blind faith isn’t strong faith. Real faith–the kind that sustains you through life’s hardest moments–doesn’t cower from hard questions. It doesn’t retreat from evidence or hide from scientific discovery. Instead, it engages, wrestles, and ultimately grows stronger through the process. He showed me this not just through his words, but through his own example of being both a devoted believer and a well-respected scientist.

Though I only spent one year of my 26-year teaching career as a science teacher before moving to history, English, and literature, the lessons I learned in that geology classroom have shaped every aspect of my faith journey. They’ve taught me that God meets us in our questions, in our doubts, in our curious exploration of the world he created. Dr. Reams didn’t just teach me about rocks and fossils–he taught me how to think, how to question, and how to let those questions lead me into a deeper relationship with God.

The journey of reconciling faith and science can feel overwhelming at times, but there’s profound beauty in the search for understanding. Questions and exploration aren’t just permissible–they’re essential steps toward deeper knowledge and stronger faith. My time with Dr. Reams taught me that scientific inquiry and faith complement each other beautifully. After all, if God is the author of all creation, then every discovery, whether through Scripture or microscope, reveals another facet of God’s handiwork.

And perhaps that’s the most beautiful part of this journey: discovering that faith and science aren’t enemies at all. They’re different languages telling aspects of the same story–the story of a universe so intricate, so precise, so wonderfully made that it could only be the work of a Creator who invites us to explore, discover, and stand in awe of his handiwork.