Orion Shining

Orion. My most favorite constellation, and tonight, it sits right outside my big picture windows. After all, my bedroom once was a sun room.

Stars have always fascinated me. A pinprick of light, oh so far away, reaches our tiny little planet. The enormousness of a star consolidated to a single point of light. The beauty found in these creations are unbelieveable. And today, they reminded me of God's faithfulness.

This morning started off decently well. Played some computer games, ate breakfast, and showered. I then did some homework (after goofing off for a few minutes, rapping with my favorite Christian artists). But as I continued my day, I had a growing sense of unease. And when I went to take a nap, I knew why. I had played my computer game one too many times for too long; it had become an idol. Video games have always been difficult for me, but with my relationship with Jesus its been easier to worship Him above some piece of code. I don't play video games with bad references, but my brain likes to dwell on gameplay long after its over.

So, as I try and sleep, I'm estranged from my God, and I can't focus on my Jesus because of these video games. I can't fall asleep and get the rest I need. So I go for a bike ride. And thats when God started workin on me! Bike riding has long been my favorite way to get alone. I pump Jesus music and push myself as hard as I can. I pass an overgrown field, and golden stalks just wave in the wind. The sky is blue, the clouds are beautiful, and the sun is approaching 'golden hour'. I stop by a creek and just sit and watch it for a while, and give God my heart on the bank.

The water fascinates me. Thought of a silly rhyme while I sat there:

The water flows, the water goes.

No one knows where it goes,

but where it goes, it carries hope.

And that about sums it up. Water just flows. Past barriers, through cracks, under ice, wherever it can. It has no place to go but onward. It doesn't look to the past and try to relive it, and it doesn't look to the future and wish it were there. Water, in a brook, can comfort through its understanding, wordless babble. Its serenity calms the soul. Water, in a waterfall, can humble through the hushening roar. We realize our insignificance in the midst of such power. 

I got some strange looks from drivers passing by, as I had left my bike and sat by the stream, and that broke the mood. I hopped on my bike and continued home. Hopped in bed and fell asleep. I wake up, and its dark. I email my youth pastor real fast, then head downstairs for dinner. After dinner, I had to take out the trash, and this is where God finished working on me in this instance. 

My driveway is pretty long. And, like I said earlier, I love stars. In fact, I love space. I've spent a lot of time watching science shows about all there is to know about space. So of course, as soon as I step outside, I locate Orion's Belt. I don't know why its my favorite, it just brings me hope. I stand in my three acre front yard, and gaze at stars that are out there, far beyond comprehension! God made a LOT of space out there; I could write a whole post just on space. But just like the stream, stars speak of God's glory too. They give off radiation that we can convert into sound waves, and it sounds like whales. This eerie, hauntingly beautiful song is how our galaxy proclaims its Creator! God created all of Creation to declare His glory; and I stand in the spotlight of His stage. I, on my relatively insignificant three acre yard, especially when you consider the magnitude of space, am what God desires most. 

See, Jesus is all about relationships. Not rules, not legalism. He gives us guidelines to protect us from hurt and pain and separation from Him. He LOVES us. He wants a relationship with YOU. He wants an INTIMATE relationship with you. He wants to hold you, hold your tears, hold your heart. He wants all of you. He is desparate for you! Now, He doesn't need you, but He wants you. He runs around heaven, bragging to everyone the beauty of His espoused. The Bride of Christ. US. He finds us beautiful; and I believe He boasts in us! Why? When we seek fulfillment in useless things, when we want to go it alone, and when we reject all He's said to us, He still sees us as beautiful. 

Beauty isn't the attractiveness of someone. If so, we have muddied the name of Christ, which we represent, so badly we would be beyond ugly. Beauty is a measure of value someone has placed on us. And somehow, for reasons unknown to me, God has placed infinite value on us. On me. On YOU. Jesus goes before His Father and BEGS for compassion on us. He weeps bitterly when we are hurt, and He rejoices when we succeed. And even though we so often forget to give Him glory when we succeed, He just waits patiently for that moment when we humble ourselves before Him. He is very good at waiting. But don't make Him. Run to Him, every single moment you've got, for the moment will never come again. Realize the Creation He has placed around you is just background music for the part you have to play. Understand His love for you, and respond to His touch. Never, ever let go of love, for Love has not let go of you. And be sure to #LiveItLikeJesus.