Awe & Wonder

Dear Friend of Burke UMC,

I’ve often mentioned that I find experiences of awe and wonder in reading about the universe. The sheer immensity of God’s creation, the billions of galaxies all rotating and sliding, the mystery of black holes, the flexibility of time – it’s just jaw-dropping stuff.

“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made…” How great Thou Art indeed!

So now I’m reading something more down-to-earth.  Literally.  A Brief History of Mankind puts 150,000 years of human life on earth into a few hundred pages. Our origins continue to fascinate me.

While the universe is estimated to be 13.7 billion years old, planet earth is fairly young at 4.5 billion years. Even after its creation our planet was in existence over 500 million years before any life appeared on its surface.  It was not until between 3 and 4 million years ago – again, billions of years later – that upright-walking hominid animals began appearing, and still another million years (give or take) before more human-looking creatures appeared. 

The first creatures that scholars could reliably call human appeared only 150,000 years ago.  And even then, the oldest civilizations in general seem to be only about 6000 years old. We date Abraham around 2000 years before Christ, and we live 2000 years after Christ.

In other words, God is rather slow.  He has been in the creating business a Very. Long. Time.

Put those facts against these.  When we ask “What are human beings that you are mindful of them, and mortals that you care for them?” God tells us that we are “little less than God, and crowned … with glory and honor.”  (Psalm 8:4-5)

Jesus tells us that we are of the highest value to God: “Even the hairs of your head are all counted.  Do not be afraid.” (Luke 12:7)

God showed the greatest love possible for us – you and me! – in sending His only Son to be born for us, to live for our benefit, and to die for our salvation.  (John 3:16)

Reynolds Price summarizes the Christian message to say:  “The Maker of all things loves and wants me.”

Can you grasp this?  My mind boggles. My jaw still drops.

But now my heart soars.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Larry