I’ve got a good deal on my plate beginning a new project which requires sorting through complex research and formulating ideas for a film project, my brain feels as if it will burst open. I imagine the burst spilling forth an explosion of ideas like a fireworks display, surely that would be a relief, watching them fizzle into nothingness.
But I find when I just sit quietly for a few moments with pen in hand, after reading and contemplating scripture about Deborah this morning, a prophet and judge in ancient Israel, my mind again started twisting into new shapes questioning the patriarchy of age-old Biblical times. I wondered within such a male dominated system, why Deborah led. I though about how she also was a lead armies in battle to victory, and how Jael, another woman made the final blow to the enemy, a triumph Deborah prophesized. I found it curious this was during a time before the human monarchy, when God was king. Certainly worth further study. But I also found myself growing weary of intellectualizing, my mind shifting to a quiet place where I finally relinquished the efforts of my reeling mind, resting my head, what felt like, on God’s lap.
I realized the great I AM lives beyond our intellect, our striving, the big ideas. We’ve been given gifts to think ,to create, to dream and we do amazing works, but it is God the great creator who guides all from the unseen.
We are called be faithful to this unseen God.
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:18
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
We are in this world but not of it, citizens of this unseen world more so than in the homes we have planted here on earth. It is to God where we need to shift our gaze, always, regularly, for God is our true home, and God’s way is our path.
All my thinking and creating and fretting this week reading books, researching websites, typing notes, designing a website and calling cinematographers matters a little in the bigger picture of this unseen life. I think of the time I sat in the Planetarium in San Francisco, enjoying a journey into outer space, a thrilling experience sitting still, yet simultaneously lifted into the cosmos. The narrator facilitated our outer space adventure as we floated thousands of miles from earth, moving through the stratosphere, into space. Looking down at the earth, now just a spec, just a tiny dot in blackness, our insignificant planet was just one of the millions within universes. As we moved further into the unknown, I felt we entered the very pulse of God’s heart. For a moment the realization of God’s omnipotence, took my breath away, the magnificence of the cosmos, of the tiny-ness of myself, and yet realizing we’ve been given this precious gift of life, of being a child of God on planet earth down there somewhere, disappeared in the vastness. God, in miraculous glory:
sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. – Isaiah 40:22
Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there! If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me. -Psalm 139
In shifting my gaze to the unseen, in relinquishing the tangle of ideas about to burst from my brain, I found peace for today in God’s omnipotence, in the vast beauty of the mystery.
WE LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!
I am slowly starting to study Solomon words on how all is ‘meaningless’ under the sky. And ask the question ‘why bother with anything really?’ But as you write, we have been given this precious gift of life and He wants us to use our gifts honouring His creation, and keeping Him at the centre where all meaning is.
Hi Lynn..I’ve been studying the same and really thinking about Solomon’s words about just enjoying
food and drink..perplexing..I think in the human realm of thinking he might be right, but when we
focus on the unseen, we find the greatest of meaning!
Oh Kathy, how beautiful this is! Isn’t it amazing how we both were focused on very similar thoughts? I love how you describe the galaxy and all its glory…. I can picture what you saw at the Planetarium, and soaked in such greatness of the mystery of things unseen and all we don’t know.
Thank you for pulling me away from this world, if only for a moment to realize the God of the universe and the magnitude of it all. “I found peace for today in God’s omnipotence, in the vast beauty of the mystery.” <—- LOVE.
I love how your blog was the same theme..but we are soul sisters of course! It’s so easy to get caught up in things of this world, how
blessed we are to have spiritual sight and faith..and each other!
So beautiful. Glad to be your neighbor at Intentional Tuesday. Have a blessed week!
Thanks Carolina, so glad you visited!
Our God is indeed amazing and omnipotent and beyond our understanding!
Thanks so much for visting today Anne!
Hi Kathy! I love Planetariums to0, there’s a great one in our downtown area. To sit there really puts my life into perspective, not just little me in my life, but how I am a part of a huge whole. I think the work you do is wonderful, and so creative! But I know how it can lead to a small space, like a bunny hole really. I get that.
It’s good to push back and see the world around. I remember studying like mad at college. My study desk had a window in front of me, and I’d often gaze through it at the night sky and realize that yes, studying is important. But there is also so much more to life, a wonderful world full of life and creation and blessings. It does bring peace, and restore a bit more needed balance!
Blessings,
Ceil
Hi Ceil, Yes, it’s creative work I do, ,..but love that..a bunny hole, yes! God’s great creation gives us plenty of reminders of the greatest of creation!
Kathy, so lovely to “meet you” today! I loved your planetarium story, and it’s a reminder to me to stay focused on the grandness of my God. It’s easy to get distracted and focused on the small things…. and forget He is Wonder Full.
so nice to have you visit Lyli, and so glad you enjoyed the planetarium journey! Blessings!
Oh how we need these reminders often. Just think: the same God who made the entire universe concerns himself about me! Amazing!
I love the story of Deborah and Jael – such an unexpected contrast. How exciting to be in the middle of a new project. Enjoy!
thanks so much Kelly!
Hi Kathy! I’ve missed you! We haven’t connected for so long and it was a breath of fresh air to stop by your blog and be inspired and encouraged! I think stopping to soak in God’s omnipotence every so often is such good practice. I love that sense of wonder that washes over me … He is so vast and He loves little ol’ me!
Praying for all the pieces of this big project to fit come together beautifully for you!
Hugs,
Lori
Hi Lori, I’ve missed you too! I will come by this week! Thanks for the encouragement Lori!