3 Sciences: Hands On, Minds On, Hearts On

Observation of a “Made Thing”

  Some Principles and Practice on How to Teach, Learn, and Enjoy a

                            “Thing that has been made” from God’s Creation.

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

(Romans 1:20)

The “made thing” for this study:

The Spiral Filaree Seed

Principle #1.    “Stand still and consider the wonderful works of God.”

Job 37:14

This verse says to “stand still” which means “stand still;” i.e., take time to think, ponder, and meditate about God’s works, whether looking at His works of creation (or His works in history which have proven that He always keeps His word).

Principle #2.    Have pleasure in studying His works. Why?

“The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.” Psalm 111:2

            “The works of the Lord are great - vast in magnitude and variety,

Sought out - investigated, carefully examined,

Of all them that have pleasure therein.” - by all that delight in them: by every genuine philosopher; every lover of nature; he who traces out the great First Cause by means of his works. And the man that does so will be astonished at the perfections of the Creator, and admire all the operations of his hands.”[1]

Principle #3.    Look “hands-on” at one of God’s objects before you read (or watch it on TV or       a DVD). Why?

            Improvement in critical thinking and observation with discernment will occur.

If you first read about a “thing that has been made,” what you have read will influence how you look at it in nature. Critical thinking is greatly reduced. As Comenius, a great Christian educator said:

"Why shall we not, instead of dead books, open the living book of nature? Not the shadow of things, but the things themselves, which make an impression on the senses and imagination, are to be brought before youth. By actual observation, not by a verbal description of things, must instruction begin. From such observation develops certain knowledge. Men must be led as far as possible to draw their wisdom not from books, but from a consideration of heaven and earth, oaks and beeches: that is, they must know and examine things themselves, and not simply be contented with the observation and testimony of others." [2]

This principle from Comenius recommends that whenever possible, before you read about objects in nature, study them “hands-on” first, using all of your senses.  Charlotte Mason, a renowned educator, says basically the same thing:

"Now the knowledge which we get out of books is not real knowledge;

the use of books is to help verify facts he has already seen for himself."

Reading good books after making natural observations trains students to think critically about what is being read. The student makes an observation, draws conclusions about it, and then reads (or in this day and age, looks at a DVD or TV on the subject) to evaluate the validity of their observation. He/she may even discover that the book or source of information being studied is incorrect when compared with the object that was studied “hands-on.”

Example for study: The Spiral Filaree Seed, a “thing that was made” by God

The Filaree seed is a testimony that the works of the Lord are great. Therefore please take pleasure in observing this marvelous work of God’s hands. From observing this seed – its beauty in proportion and symmetry and how it works - and learning from this observation, I hope you will then consider looking closely at all of God’s works (whether in nature or in history) for you will find pleasure in them. As you ponder more and more of God’s works in nature and history, He will become more and more awesome in your thinking, for you will find in them manifold evidences of His sovereignty, knowledge, power, wisdom, goodness, majesty, incomprehensibility, etc.

Here are some suggestions to guide you as you first observe individual filaree seeds and secondly a filaree seed cluster.

1.         Handle the seed[3]. Describe it according to its properties (a property is any characteristic that makes it different from other objects). Ask questions about it to which you would like to know some answers. For examples: What is the function of each part? Why is located at this section of the structure? How does each part perform its function? When does each part act? Etc.

2.         Perform three experiments: Before doing each one, predict what is going to happen to the seed. Ask how and why the seed does what it does.

Large seed: place in water for 30-40 minutes. Return every ten minutes or so and observe what happens. Remove and let dry on a paper towel. Observe. What happens? How? /Why? Draw conclusions. Ask questions.

Small seed: insert seed tip into a piece of white bread (its white background aids in observing the seed) or potting soil. Add warm water 3-5 times a minute with a spoon or pipette, and observe the seed turn and unwind. Remove and let dry. Plant either seed in potting soil and let them germinate (See planting instructions at end of this paper).

            Place a small drop of water on the surface of a piece of bread. Place the seed as     flat as you can on the bread with the seed touching the water spot on the bread. Put   water drops on the seed, its drill, and on the spiral loop. Observe. For what purpose         did the creator of the seed add the spiral loop at the tail end of seed? What would     happen to the seed if there was no spiral loop at the end? (Takes 5-10 minutes)

(Please do not read the following information until you have first looked at the seeds as suggested above and have done the experiments)

The time to read.

You are to now read this section and see how much you agree with, disagree with, and discover you didn’t know about the seed. You should also learn that having first studied the seed “hands-on” that it will make the written material more easily understood. The two-dimensional world of words becomes more understandable when worked within the real three-dimensional world of the seed. By analogy, the Apostle Paul in his writings of major doctrines in the NT, by uniting them with OT historical events, places, and persons, gives them a reality that the NT words alone can not give.[4]

While reading this section, hold the seed in your hand and examine it and “see” what you are “reading.” “Stand still” for more moments and “consider” (Job 37:14) each detail that is mentioned in this section and other features not mentioned. If you do you will understand what the Psalmist meant in 111:2 (Principle #2, first page).

Observation of the filaree seed: Take a careful look at the spiral shaft of one of the seeds. Does it not appear as if it were skillfully carved out of a piece of the finest wood? (Use a magnifying glass if one is available). Now place the seed on a flat surface and read about this machine[5] at work.

A machine at work

When the seeds fall to the ground from the plant, they land at a very slight angle. This angle is produced by the curve of its tail and the many fine hairs surrounding the spirally coiled shaft of the seed. This slight angle keeps the seed from becoming entangled in the surface it has landed on. It is, however, not enough of an angle to get the seed to drill itself into the ground. Then how does it get itself into the ground? It is the coiled, logarithmic spiral that will raise up the shaft of the seed to create an angle large enough for the seed to begin drilling into the ground. As rain comes in contact with the seed, the spiral will begin to enlarge and raise the shaft of the seed up into an angle that will permit the seed to drill into the ground (even to a 45^o). Though very light in weight, the seed structure is strong enough to produce sufficient torque and power to drill without any of its parts breaking or twisting out of their shape. The drilling action of the seed is activated primarily by moisture. As with certain cacti spines I believe the thin hairs draw water vapor from the air in dry climates onto the shaft to help it get moist. As the shaft becomes damp in this way or from rainwater, its coils begin unwinding, causing it to drill itself into the ground.

“This spiral is a marvel of engineering. Short hairs on the seed and long rigid hairs along the spiral, all backward-pointing, also play a part in this singular machinery, by braking and holding the seed, and ensuring that the spiral movement again drives it deeper into the ground.”[6]

As you carefully read this are you “experiencing” Psalm 111:2? I now recommend that you re-do the experiments and ponder more closely what was occurring. You should find that your understanding of it will increase and with it a greater admiration of God’s creative skill in His workmanship. A magnifying lens will be of help in making your observations.

A further recommendation: follow this pattern of learning with anything God has created. Obeying Job 37:14 will bring many satisfying and spiritual rewards to you and will glorify the Lord. As you look next at a filaree seed cluster, please follow the same pattern of observation that you just did with the single filaree seeds. And please ponder carefully the questions that are raised in the next section on “The golden or equiangular spiral.”

The filaree seed cluster.

The filaree seed cluster is resting in a plane with its extended spirals all separated evenly by 72^o angles (isn’t that amazing precision?). Note that each of the five spirals in the cluster has a seed attached at each end. In what state were the five spirals and seeds before they ended up in the cluster?

They were wrapped tightly around the base of the column as you see in this picture. Each of their finely shaped shafts extend the length of the column (and all under tension, “wanting” to unravel) and taper into extremely small pointed endings. Each seed and its tail lie in a grove on the shaft. There is also a cap on the end that keeps the five tips from separating until they mature. It appears that the seeds are held together at the other end by something like “Velcro.” Talk about craftsmanship! Does not the precise arrangement of each cluster of seeds tapering the length of the column, and when mature, each seed or carpel forming a golden spiral as they extend outward from the column and then release and fall to the ground where their extremely fine tapering ends can be observed, show incredible design?

The reason they are not dispersed in the cluster that you see - where they are perfectly spread apart at 72 degree angles - is that they were glued and knotted together as they were maturing so that they would not separate. By observing them in this configuration they show beauty, order, and workmanship of the greatest degree. Occasionally this configuration is observable in their natural environment.

The Golden or Equiangular Spiral

The curling tail of the Filaree Seed forms a “golden” or equiangular spiral. It is different from other spirals for its pattern allows golden triangles and golden rectangles to be plotted within its gentle curve (please look at golden rectangles and golden spiral graphed together in the enclosed colored Filaree tract). This golden spiral can be seen in sea shells, ram horns, sunflowers, a parrot’s beak, the arms of galaxies, the cochlea of the ear, whirlpools, etc. It can be observed in living and non-living forms, from the smallest size to the largest. Why is this spiral found so often in nature? Could it be an example of the repetition of useful forms which one would expect to find in a world created by a powerful intelligent personal being?

                                                                                                                                                         Source of Nautilus photograph[7]

Could such seeds and their spiral configuration – “a display of an integrated system of component parts[8]” which works and shows beauty of form, repeating itself generation after generation without changing its “kindness” - ever develop by chance, by an evolutionary process? And if it did, why would it develop into such a form and pattern like this?

Isn’t it sound logic to think that intelligence is required for the design and construction of this unique seed? For man to make a drill requires a designer and precision-made tools. Doesn’t a seed that has a drill also require an intelligent designer? Especially a drill that depends upon water as its source of energy to cause it to screw itself into the soil? The only rational viewpoint is that the creator of the universe created the filaree seed as a visible fingerprint of His invisible, yet personal existence. This great, wise, powerful, creative, personal, and sovereign God of creation is the one revealed in the Bible, of whom it can be said, “Great things He does . . .” (Job 37:5). He is worthy of worship. And what is His name? The Lord Jesus Christ.

“Thou art worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast

created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

(Revelation 4:11)