If someone were to ask why you worship God, how would you respond? At least part of your answer would probably focus on God's attributes, those characteristics that make Him worthy of worship. You might describe His love, His power, or His omniscience. Something that might not come to mind, however, is God's beauty.

In his latest book, Scribbling in the Sand (InterVarsity), one topic musician and writer Michael Card explores is our hunger to experience God's beauty. We recently interviewed Michael, and he shared some of his thoughts about where we encounter the beauty of God—in the Scriptures, in mundane activities, in other people, and in creation—and how it compels us to respond with worship.

Discipleship Journal: In your book, you've described beauty as an attribute of God. Can you explain what that means?

Michael Card: Most of the time when people describe God, they use theological terms. His beauty is rarely mentioned. I don't think that beauty is an attribute of God most people meditate on, even though it's in Scripture. In fact, the characteristic of beauty is something that I don't think we know much about, period. When we do talk about it, our perspective on beauty is shaped by our culture's ideals, which can be one-dimensional and shallow. Maybe that's why we're not drawn to beauty in our discussion of God.

Yet David was definitely captivated by God's beauty. In Ps. 27:4, he wrote:

And Psalm 19 talks about how the heavens declare His glory, how the beauty of God is reflected in nature.

Card: The Chinese are gardeners. One young woman described in tears how God communicated His presence through the beauty of dew on a flower in her grandmother's garden.

This wasn't an encounter that was filled with theological exactitude. It was just joy, and it spoke to her about who God is: He is not just a benign creator but a Father. God used experiences like hers with so many people I met to prepare them to hear the gospel.

Again and again in China, I talked to people who had never heard of Christianity, never heard of Jesus, never heard a single word from the Bible. Yet through nature and their God-given conscience, many believed in God. Not only did they believe God existed, they had derived some understanding about His loving character because He provided food, water, and a beautiful world. One old woman told me, "I've known Him for years. I just didn't know His name."

Card: Beauty is about much more than the obviously captivating things we see around us, such as a breathtaking mountain view. I think we also see beauty in the way Jesus dealt with people. The interaction between Jesus and the woman at the well was beautiful (Jn. 4:4–26). So was the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus when they talked about the new birth. Jesus found just the right words to communicate something that was so beyond this old man's categories (Jn. 3:1–21).

Truth has a beauty about it. Even though the truth isn't always beautiful, truth and beauty are connected. Although Isaiah said there wasn't anything beautiful about His appearance (Is. 53:2), I think Jesus brings a whole new kind of beauty to the table.

Card: We see beauty in the way Jesus loved people and listened to them. It is beautiful to see Him reach people who are unreachable and touch people who are untouchable. Even in some of the confrontational things He does, we see the beauty of truth in action. Jesus displayed wonderful balance and creativity in the unexpected things He did.

For example, I think His scribbling in the sand in John 8 was beautiful. I assume it took people by surprise.

Card: Yes. In the midst of all that confusion and anger, Jesus stooped down and started scribbling in the dust. That's very ordinary. But given the context that He does it in, it's unexpected. And it is certainly a beautiful thing to extend forgiveness.

To some degree, there is a surprise, an unexpected quality, in beauty. When you come around the corner and see the moon rising, it takes you by surprise. It's something you didn't expect to see.

Jesus specialized in surprising people—both in what He did and in the stories He told. Jesus was a great storyteller. But unlike in our age, Jesus often left His parables unresolved.

We almost never hear people preach parables the way Jesus did. Sermons on parables explain them to death. But Jesus didn't do that. He put them out there and asked, "What do you think?" I think it's a beautiful thing to give people the freedom to make important realizations on their own.

Card: Exactly. Beauty fires our desire for worship and expands our idea of what worship is. My definition of worship is pretty simple: Worship is a response to God. It's not something I initiate. I don't go to church on Sunday morning and just start worshiping. Instead, I have to see or hear something of God, and then I respond in worship.

In human terms, I think romance may be the best analogy. Romance is always a response to experiencing beauty in the context of a relationship—whether that's physical beauty or seeing a beautiful quality in another person's heart.

In fact, I don't know if you can worship without beauty. The psalmist certainly responded to the fact that God is beautiful, and it made him long for more (Ps. 27:4, 8). I think the transforming experience in Peter's life was when he witnessed Jesus' dazzling beauty on the mount of transfiguration. In that moment, the veil was pulled back. Peter glimpsed the awesome beauty of Jesus in a way he hadn't before (Mt. 17:1–13).

I find it interesting that the only historical experience with Jesus that Peter ever refers to in his letters is being with Him on the holy mountain (2 Pet. 1:16–18). He saw Jesus' beauty, and it transformed him.

Card: Worship calls forth a whole range of responses. It isn't just one hour on Sunday. My worshipful response to the beauty I see in God could take the form of loving my wife and my children well. That's an act of worship.

One of my professors taught me that studying was a response of worship. Paul talks about how we give our bodies in worshipful response to God (Ro. 12:1). That's where the definition needs to get stretched. Right now, my wife is working in the garden. Gardening can be worship insofar as it's a response of gratitude to God for who He is and what He has provided for us.

Card: No, it wouldn't be worship if the act isn't filled with a sense of gratitude—or some other response to God's beauty. It would just be gardening or changing a dirty diaper or taking out the garbage.

Knowing Jesus brings meaning to every aspect of our lives. All of a sudden, the things we thought were ordinary become glorious. Mother Teresa on the streets of Calcutta is a great example. She responded to God by offering sanctuary and tender care to lepers. What an amazing act of worship!

Card: I agree. It grieves me that we mistakenly believe worship begins with us. If I write a good song or if we put together a dynamic service, then God becomes just a small part of the worship equation.

In reality, however, worship is surrender, offering your entire life and everything you are to God. Every moment has the potential of being a worshipful experience. The more time you spend with Him, the more you realize that there is no such thing as an ordinary Thursday afternoon.

Think about it: It's precisely through the ordinary that Jesus works. In one sense, there is nothing more ordinary than the miracles of Jesus. He doesn't wave his arms in the air. He doesn't make big pronouncements. At the wedding in Cana, He simply says, "Go fill those jugs, and give them to the guests." Or, "I want you to pray over this food and then pass it out"—and 5,000 people are fed. Or He spits on the ground, makes some mud, and says, "Now go wash this off," and a blind man can see.

Jesus does these extraordinary miracles in ordinary ways. He meets us in the mundane—in the act of gardening or washing dishes or writing articles. Driving is another ordinary way He meets me. Some of my best times with the Lord are when I've been sitting behind the wheel.

Card: Well, one of my deepest spiritual experiences happened while I was driving down the road on a beautiful, sunny day. I was listening to the Doobie Brothers at a ridiculous volume when I sensed the Lord's presence with me in the car.

My first instinct was to turn the music off—to have silence and reverence and that sort of thing. But a voice just a few decibels from being audible said, "No. Let's enjoy this together." All of a sudden I sensed that God wanted to share Himself—His presence—with me in the midst of what I was doing.

Sometimes we do need to stop what we're doing, turn to Him, be quiet, and listen. But at least at one point in my life, while doing something routine, I realized that He simply wanted to enjoy that moment with me.

Card: Absolutely. That's what real worship is: a relationship. Again, it's like romance. The Bible is God's love letter, and He is wooing us into a great romance.

God reaches out to us. He initiates, and we respond. That was the experience of the Chinese people. They realized that there was this Person who had extended Himself through beauty and nature and the things that made their hearts resonate. And they responded.

I think the deepest desire of God's heart is to be with us. That's what the Garden of Eden and the tabernacle and the temple and the law were all about. The purpose of keeping the law was so the Israelites could enjoy a relationship with God (Jer. 31:33, Ezk. 11:20).

Relationship is what the cross is all about too. The cross is the best example of God's initiation. As Paul said, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Ro. 5:8). From that perspective, I don't think there's anything more beautiful than the cross.

When we truly encounter the beauty of God, we can't help but say, "Wow!" We can't help but respond to the beauty of His love and character by surrendering our hearts and worshiping Him.

Michael Card is a musician with 20 recordings to his credit, and the author or coauthor of 10 books. His latest book, Scribbling in the Sand (InterVarsity), examines the biblical foundation of creativity.

Michael also mentors younger artists and musicians, teaches about the creative process, and calls the Christian recording industry to deeper discipleship.

He lives in Tennessee with his wife, Susan, and their four children.

You can find more information about Michael and his ministry at www.michaelcard.com.

Connie Willems is managing editor of Discipleship Journal. This is her first magazine interview. Her previous interviews have been for radio programs at KTLF in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and KLJC in Kansas City, Missouri. "I love interviews," says Connie, "because they give me a chance to talk to interesting people and ask questions—and I thrive on questions!"