I’ve flown more often than I ever have in the past year and
a half than ever before. Most of the time Erika and Elanor would fly out a few
days early so that they could spend more time at home. This left me to take many
trips out to TX alone. I remember one flight from Denver to Houston very
specifically. I was sitting by the window and I was staring out at the view. I
was in a state of wonder and awe at my bird’s eye view. I remember thinking to
myself, “I don’t want to lose this.”
When I fly I always try to get a window seat if I can. I’m
like a little kid every time I fly. Once I get my seat I’m ready and waiting
for the plane to take off. Taxiing to the point where we would take off is just
a tease. The take-off is a rush all the way to when we reach our coasting
speed. And, this whole time I’m looking out the window. The accomplishment of
human flight is amazing! To quote Louis C.K., “You’re sitting in a chair in the
sky!” But, it’s the window that always draws me. I can never get enough of the
amazing views that are achieved by making a 438 ton machine take off into the
air. The views of the land whether plain or mountain, over water, or above the
clouds always take my breath away. Whether it’s these views or any other
achievement or part of creation, I don’t want to lose that feeling.
I think to lose that experience of wonder and awe is in a
way to lose what Jesus spoke about when he said, “Amen I say to you, whoever
does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it”, (Mark
10:15). Jesus is talking about total obedience and total dependence. I think if
we really are obedient and dependent on God then we are also receptive to the
wonders of his creation. The saints knew that when God shows up he shows off
and that everything he created he created for us to be drawn to him and that we
should be able to take it all in while at the same time knowing he is the
destination. Creation is just a small part of God’s wooing us. St. Teresa of
Avila puts our response this way,
“The King seems to refuse nothing to the Bride! Well, then, let her drink as much as she desires and get drunk on all these wines in the cellar of God! Let her enjoy these joys, wonder at these great things, and not fear to loser her life through drinking much more than her weak nature enables her to do. Let her die at last in this paradise of delights; blessed death that makes one live in such a way.”
I do think there is a danger in needing our
stomach to be pumped due to the wine Teresa is talking about. Everything in
creation is pointing us to God. But there are many who don’t see the forest for
the trees. They fall in love with the invitation and not the sender. They fall in love with the wine and not the wine maker. I have an
acquaintance who enjoys the mountains and skiing in them. He will post his
pictures from his vacation and talk about how much he enjoys nature. At the
same time, he’s an atheist. When I meet people like that who are just so
enthralled with what God has done to draw us to him I can’t help but think,
“You’re so close!”
I don’t want to be the type of person that boasts, “I’ve
seen that before” or “what’s so special about that”. I want to always be taken
aback by magnificent waterfalls, beaches, powerful thunderstorms, clear blue
skies. I want to gasp at views from the edge of a cliff or looking up from the
foot of a mountain. I want to be mesmerized by the tiniest creatures and
powerful behemoths. And I always want to feel blessed when in the presence of
what a woman’s body can do in nine months.
There are some things that sometimes don’t seem like they
belong on this earth. See for yourself:
And check out this video to see the wonder of size in the
universe and just how tiny we are:
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