Rutted

Does this picture bring back some memories?

It wasn't too long ago when winter was upon us. Sleet, snow and ice covered us, and we were traipsing around in our boots, gloves and hats. That time has passed for now, but do you remember those horrible ruts we get in the roads when driving during the winter? Ugh!

Those ruts are almost the worst part of winter, especially when driving a little Saturn like I do. I would be driving down the road and before I knew it, I would be caught in one of these ruts, shifted and jolted out of control.

Often, I see, we are caught in these ruts in our lives...especially our faith lives. The routine of going to church, hearing and reading a few things about God during the week, and even singing a few songs creates within us a pattern of experiencing God that is really not much of an experience. Sometimes, it might feel monotonous. Some might even say, dare they, boring.

Even I get put into these places sometimes. Sometimes life gets routine. While reading the last portion of the book of Hebrews this week, I passed over Hebrews 13:8. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever." Well, to be honest, that doesn't really knock my socks off too much. Great, Jesus is the same. Always.

I guess this sentiment does not create within me wonder, and awe, and often, that is what I am looking for with God. I seek and look for it over and over, this wonder and majesty about God that will just tilt my world. I want those, "Come to Jesus" moments daily in my life.

Maybe this comes from my postmodern approach to the world, or even my contemporary, "get it now" mindset that has been culturally taught to me from day one.

Yet, if I read this same passage, under the context of looking at a picture like this, my thoughts are totally shifted. This same Jesus, who formed and shaped all of this world, made this Nebula. This is the North America and Pelican Nebula shot by Thierry Legault...(you can find more of his amazing work at http://www.astrophoto.fr/).

The context to how we read and reflect on scripture truly does impact how it reaches us. When I think about Jesus as this amazing creator, alive and active in the world, forming and shaping all of, well...everything, that we are living in and directly responsible for even Nebula's, the awe and wonder return. I get excited about who God is and I even become excited about scriptures like Hebrews 13:6.

Over and over in scripture, we learn about how God loves us and seeks us out and if God is so interested in me, while also being able to form and shape Nebula's, I can't imagine how powerful that love is.

And so, may the awe and wonder continue for all of us as we make our way on this spiritual journey with God.

Grace and Peace,

Micah