I was just thinking about ...

Little Glimpses of God

“Man, nothing but black, just one more try! Datgum it, missed again!” The time: 9:00 pm , the place: middle of nowhere in the middle of the road, the occasion: a utility wire was sparking. And I was underneath it! Well, a little off to the side and just barely sticking the camera out the far side of the van. An electric pole was shorting out and making some really cool-looking electric blue flashes. The color was fascinating and I wanted to capture it on our digital camera. Unfortunately, digital cameras have a delay in the shutter mechanism. No matter how much I tried to get one of the cool blue flashes recorded, it was just a bit too slow. Yeah, I know. Speaking of slow, what was I doing out in the rain, perched in a van under a high voltage wire that could possibly snap at any time? Hmmm, I plead the 5^th. But just let me repeat that the blue flashes were gorgeous.

A few days later, I was reading a devotional that dealt with shooting stars and the little glimpses we get of their momentary radiance. They fade so quickly though; it’s rare for their dance across our night skies to be recorded. And even harder to get someone else to see the one you’re looking at. Let’s face it, the beauty of a shooting star is reserved for one person lucky enough to be in the right place, at the right time and watching patiently for the event to happen. It’s a show designed for one.

I’ve watched a meteor shower before. And in Southern Illinois , you really have to want to. If the weather isn’t too cold to be uncomfortable, the mosquitoes will try to practice their own variation of acupuncture on you. And somewhere between swatting and moving around, you see a star blaze across the night sky. All of a sudden, it’s easier to be more attentive to the black sky then. You forget the pests and your eyes carefully scan the dark shy more and more, straining to catch a glimpse of the brilliant white that lasts for a half a breath. Pretty soon, you’re standing so still gazing upwards, that people going by begin to wonder if you’ve been abducted by aliens and been experimented on. But you don’t care! The sight was so breathtaking, you have to see one more. Now maybe you understand why I was taking chances to capture the flashes of blue. And maybe you also understand how the pictures (if you’re lucky enough to get one) just don’t compare to the original viewing.

And if you try to describe the spectacular-ness of the image, you can’t quite get the experience conveyed to anyone else. Sights like those just don’t transfer well from one person to another. You just can’t explain the ability of the sight to grapple your full attention and hold it for so long. You also can’t justify spending so much time looking at it or the goofy look on you face when watching it. Something about it just forced you to look and give it all your attention. And you wanted to experience more and more of it. I hope I’m getting close to an experience you’ve had with God’s divine presence. Have I? If not, start thinking in that direction then, ‘cause that’s what this devotion is all about.

God has that same attraction, too. Have you ever been in a service or at an event where time just seemed to stand still? The presence of God was heavy and surrounding you and you couldn’t explain it or describe it. But you knew who it was. The Holy Spirit does that to a person. Maybe the lighting appears different, or you hear or feel something. Maybe words were spoken to you and you know the words, knew the voice but couldn’t describe it. How about this, you heard the voice, but not with your ears, the audible voice bypassed your ears and went straight to your brain. Yeah, I know, you’re thinking this guy is off the wall. But am I? The mystery of God eludes us all and no one knows why. Maybe we can’t comprehend God or maybe we’re just not supposed to. Either idea holds water. After all, don’t you keep coming back to a good mystery; especially if you know there’s no danger?

Personally, I love the idea of a God who always seems to be new and fresh and exciting every time I come into contact with Him. It makes me want to go to Him more often. And I don’t just want to see what’s new, but also to embrace each new experience to the fullest. I want to feel the power and the beauty and the love of God flowing at the same time all through my soul. That’s getting wrapped up in the very presence of the Almighty. The Spirit of God is electrifying (no pun intended!) and is able to hold my fascination for hours on end. I hope and believe it will continue to do so … for all eternity. But hey, in the meantime,                     

Drop on by anytime, I'll be here and so will God,

Dennis       

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