I got new glasses last week. I like them a lot, but I'm not sure if they are the reason I'm seeing the world more clearly. On Monday I walked and prayed for an hour and the sky was a deep blue, the clouds a brilliant white. The leaves seemed greener too. All the beauty had me thinking about our Creator and what we lose by being insulated from this world, inside all the time. Stuck looking at concrete and brick. We are becoming an increasingly atheistic people, especially in large cities. Scripture often speaks of how creation demonstrates who God is.
Ps 19: The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
Romans 1:20
. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
When I was younger I would go hiking, escape to the woods and let God's creative power work in me. I was reconnected with his immensity as I saw myself as a speck once again. One of my favorite illustrations of his hugeness is:
Imagine a grapefruit. Ok That grapefruit is the Sun, now imagine a grain of sand 35 feet away. that is the earth, the moon a speck of sand would be a half inch from the first grain of sand. Now Imagine another grapefruit 2000 miles away. that's alpha centauri the nest closest star. Now recognize that there are at least 100 billion stars (maybe 400 billion?) in the Milky way all about 1600 miles from each other using this same scale. And at least 100 Billion galaxies in the Universe maybe 500 billion. Think about how huge the universe is and that somehow it is always expanding. Now you are one of 6 billion particles on that tiny grain of sand, and for some reason you think everything revolves around you.
Psalm 8: 4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
yet he does...
I had similar feelings recently....School was finishing up and I actually had a few weekends to enjoy the pacific coastline. The vastness and majesty of the Pacific Ocean made me contemplate the immensity of our Creator. Nature is definitely a place where I strongly feel God's presence, and I don't get out and enjoy the beauty of creation nearly as much as I should or would like to. I thought when I moved to a more temperate climate, like northern California, I would be outside SOO much more. Alas, no matter where you are, we all become engrossed in our jobs, computers, TV, etc. and forget to get out and breathe in fresh air! This week I am up in Lowville, NY, and I am surrounded by lush, green trees and expansive fields. Yesterday I went for a jog/walk (the humidity and hills are something I am NOT used to)...and afterwards stretched in the grass, being cooled off by a breeze. It was incredibly quiet, much different from the sounds of Berkeley, and I was reminded of God's love and peace.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to opportunities this summer- camping with (your) kids, visiting Grandpa on the lake, exploring in Denver- to reconnect with God and nature.
By the way, the glasses look great. :) I love you, Nate!
Hey Jess, Sorry I didn't see this. For some reason I thought it was going to be on FB. I hope that you could reconnect with God and nature this past week. yeah, I know being outdoors is something that I love and even need to just maintain that rhythm and connection with God, but something I build in too infrequently. I'm so looking forward to Denver and experiencing a new part of God's world. I'm glad you were able to spend so much time with the kids. Can't wait to see you myself in just a few weeks!
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