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ParadigmsSunday, January 2, 2011
Isaiah 60:1 Sunlight brilliant in my eyes and I know I'm staring into a star. I think, how beautiful, how precious, how pure. The earth is the Lord's and everything in it. It reflects God's light and harmony. It is beautiful because God is beautiful. But God doesn't love the planets like he loves us. I was struck by a detail in Rick Joyner's description of his apocalyptic vision, The Final Quest: "It was apparent that those who were given authority over cities were esteemed above those who had been given authority over galaxies. The value of a single child surpassed that of a galaxy of stars, because the Holy Spirit dwelt in men" (p 116). This was true of the baby Jesus. And most amazingly it is also true, God tells me, of the baby David (and the baby ... please-fill-in-your-name-right-here). Every day of my life is precious to him, covered by him, made whole and holy by him. Joyner continues, "The Lord has chosen men as his eternal dwelling place." I want to be a good host, welcome him. I don't want him to get frustrated, shake the dust off his sandals, and move along elsewhere. I want him to stay. And what I'm discovering is that he wants to stay even more than I want him to stay. Grace. Building me up. Forgiveness. He does all of that every day for me. Again and again, in the silence you come, Lord, and rest, and say, "I love you." Let me be washed clean and new each time and welcome you every day. |
When the plane lifts into the air everything is suddenly new. The flat scenery becomes beautiful and symmetric. The air rushes by faster and faster and yet, as we rise, everything slows down. Finally we are just floating up there, above the jewel that God made and we call earth.