Now I See

By Tharun Kumar G.

In a world filled with distractions and preoccupations, have you ever paused to consider the intricate tapestry of creation that surrounds you? In "Now I See" we invite you on a journey of discovery, inviting you to see the world anew through the lens of divine revelation.

Drawing inspiration from Proverbs 25:2 and Romans 1:20-21, this ca

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tharun Kumar G
• Release date: Feb 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9789356738959

Book preview

Now I See

Tharun Kumar G.

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Copyright © 2024

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the author's prior written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please get in touch with the author.

Endorsements

In Now I See, Tharun Kumar G does a wonderful job of pointing us to the often overlooked, simple little things that carry powerful learning, instructions, and messages for us. Tharun unveils these hidden secrets and wonderful mysteries using science, technology, philosophy, and insights based on his own personal experience.

‌We are busy people. Life keeps moving at an increasingly alarming pace that we sometimes find difficult to keep up with. We don’t seem to have the time to pause, think, reflect, ponder, see, and perceive. And so, we miss out on the beauty and splendor, the design and intelligence, that display the glory of our Creator. Our ears are constantly plugged so that we simply miss listening to the beautiful sounds that carry the voice of God. We stare hour after hour into our screens and miss seeing the radiant colors around us that display the fingerprint of God. In this book, Tharun gently invites us and draws us out into moments of reflection, where we could perhaps consider the messages God has written for us in His creation all around us.

‌You are sure to enjoy the thought-provoking insights presented in Now I See!

Ashish Raichur

All Peoples Church, India.

October 2023

I have, on several occasions, had the pleasure of listening to Tharun share about how humans look to creation for insights and ideas about how to tackle real-life issues or, more broadly, how to approach life. Thus, going into reading this book, I was expecting to see the same themes that centered around what I had heard him share before. That was not the case! I learned anew! For instance, I did not know that something as seemingly simple as the design and malfunctioning of a kite could be that symbolic. Just like how kites, which are man-made, can sometimes fly uncontrollably and possibly get tangled or land in an unintended location, the book makes a case that we too (i.e., humans, created by God) tend to drift away from our Creator, entangled in the strings of our own desires and choices. We wander far from the love that fashioned us, seeking fulfillment in the fleeting pleasures of the world. Our hearts grow distant, and we find ourselves lost and broken, unable to find our way back home...Yet, Christ, in His boundless mercy, pursues us relentlessly, seeking to bring us back into the shelter of His love.

The book Now I See goes beyond how a secular literary work would lay out the concept of learning from creation. The book frames this learning from a Biblical point of view, pointing to God as the ultimate source of these insights and ideas. By so doing, the book is able to encourage and challenge the reader to go the extra mile. In particular, the book deploys introspection at the end of each theme, calling readers to, after having learned from a certain

theme, look within themselves in order to help identify areas of their lives in which they are deficient and, therefore, need to act/work on. The book is thus not just a bunch of information compiled but a precious collection of God-inspired ideas and wisdom about everyday life applications that come from the symbolism of creation. I was blessed, encouraged, and challenged to read this book! And I hope you experience the same!

Albert K. Mensah

November 23

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Foreword

Introduction

Mosquitoes

Pigeons

Walnuts

Watermelons

Freedom

Earth

Ice

Carrots

Starlings

Dragonfly

Kingfisher

Encouragement

Delegation

Calla Lily

Rain Lilies

River beds

Bread

Spider silk

Godwits

Identity

Dolphins

Ants

Recognition

Trust

Rain

Salt

Day and Night

Rainbow

Curd

Tides

Family

Ginger

Languages

Kites

Mountains

Constants

Order

Morality

Not My Baby!

Faith

Dedication

To God who is sovereign.

Acknowledgments

Above all, I express my deepest gratitude to God for being the ultimate source of inspiration, guiding my thoughts, and leading me to a profound understanding. I am immensely thankful for His continuous presence, leaving endless avenues to explore, rejoice, and glorify Him.

I extend heartfelt thanks to Ashish Raichur for his unwavering encouragement and mentorship. His teachings and writings have been a guiding light, and I am grateful for his invaluable support in reading through the manuscript and providing his endorsement.

A special appreciation goes to Ralph Stice for his meticulous reading of the manuscript and the uplifting foreword he crafted. I am also grateful to Albert K. Mensah for dedicating time to review the manuscript and offering his endorsement.

My sincere thanks to Praveen, Irene, and Karuna for their creative contributions to the book cover design. The thoughtful collaboration added depth to the visual representation of the ideas within.

I extend special thanks to Siju Rajappan for his support in prayer, providing spiritual strength to see this endeavor through.

I acknowledge the creators of online resources such as Reedsy and ChatGPT, which have facilitated the writing process.

To my family, my parents Gowri Shanker and Geethanjali, who nurtured me, my sisters and my extended family and friends who shared in the experiences recounted in this book, I am profoundly grateful.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Yun Sun for proofreading and sharing valuable inputs, enhancing the quality of the manuscript.

Most importantly, I express my deepest thanks to my dear wife, Leena David, and my son, Jace, for standing with me unwaveringly throughout the journey of bringing this work to completion. Your love and support have been my greatest blessings.

Lastly, to all who take the time to read this book, I extend my sincere appreciation. May it be a source of inspiration and blessing to you.

Thank you.

Tharun Kumar G

About the Author

Tharun is a multi-faceted author with expertise in technology, leadership, and ministry. With degrees in Technology, Theology, and a masters in Business Administration, he brings a unique blend of technical knowledge and spiritual insight to his writing. Tharun’s extensive volunteer work, including roles as a service coordinator, content writer, and preacher, has enriched his understanding of human dynamics and effective communication.

As a lead six sigma black belt and lean coach, Tharun has honed his skills in process design and operational analytics, making him a sought-after speaker on change management and continuous service improvement. Outside of his professional pursuits, he is an avid chess player, biodiversity ambassador, and naturalist, finding inspiration in the beauty of God’s creation.

Tharun’s spiritual journey began with a transformative healing experience at age 27, leading him to immerse himself in the study and application of the Bible. Combining his technical expertise, leadership insights, and spiritual wisdom, Tharun crafts impactful writings that uplift and resonate with readers.

Foreword

By Ralph Stice

The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

(Proverbs 15:14)

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made.

(Romans 1:20)

All of us who want to know God on a deeper level have experienced the wonder of His creation. We watch an ant carry a crumb many times its body weight and marvel at its strength and determination. We see a river running and relish its sound and movement, in awe of its power, its ability to cut its way through rocky terrain with seemingly no effort.

What the vast majority of us do not do is take the extra step and research how leaves change color and why, what powers the ocean’s currents and why waves roll, rather than curl under the sand. Tharun Kumar has had such an insatiable curiosity throughout his life that he has taken this extra step for us, and in this book he shares his findings, to our delight.

He takes our musings and follows them down whatever path they may lead, digging deeper to explain the wonder of spider silk or the phenomenon of rain lilies. He has taken the time to investigate creation and reflect on his own profound life experiences, and now he shares his discoveries with us.

He does all of this in the same way in which he comports himself in life: with a humble attitude and a child-like wonder that we all want to guard but often lose. He has lived out Proverbs 15:14 and will continue to do so. He is too curious to stop learning about the construction of a dragonfly’s eyes or how constants in physics inevitably lead to either an untenable faith in random design or the inevitable conclusion that someone designed our universe.

As he takes us on a journey into how mountains support different bird species and what lessons this may hold for urban design and social cohesion, for instance, he does so to stimulate our thinking and to challenge us to take next steps. Most of the chapters herein end with questions for us to chew on as we revel in his finding--and never see a walnut in the same way.

Tharun understands our capacity for new information on a deep level, so he keeps each chapter to a manageable length, long enough to intrigue and inspire us; short enough so that we can digest each in one sitting. This may not be a book that you devour in a day if you want to savor it. Better to intake a chapter a day or half-day, and then lean back and consider its implications.

You will soon see that the marvels of creation are inexplicable apart from a Master Designer that many of us call God. And, you should gain a certain comfort from this realization: that there is a God, that He maintains His creation, and that He has made it all for our enjoyment.

In addition, it’s stimulating to read about an accomplished man’s origins, his childhood, his family, his neighborhood, his moves to new cities and countries. Interesting people lead interesting lives, and we enjoy reading their perspectives and adventures. They make us want to join then for the ride, and we inevitably gain wisdom from their life lessons. The wiser men and women among us have much to share. Tharun falls into that category.

May this book not only educate you, but provoke you to see the world with a different lens, a more finely tuned lens, and lead a life of admiration and reflection, of gratitude and worship