“There’s so much land. Everywhere.” That was the response of a friend visiting the farm country land of what is known as Sussex County, Delaware. That was the only thing he could say as he looked out the car window, the warm summer air hitting his face. And that was probably the most intelligent thing to say as he drank in the vast flat farm land that extended for miles joining towering skies splattered with distant clouds. Of course, it’s probably what you would say too if you were from the forested area of Virginia.
It was my same response when I came to Delaware too. Farm land. Flat farm land. Vast flat farm land of green and gold that meets blue somewhere off with some winding country road. In the part of New Jersey (the “somewhat” garden state) where I previously lived and grew up, I had forests. Thick forests. Magical forests. And, of course, shopping malls. Department stores. Highways. Business complexes. And fast-food joints every stone-throw from a traffic light. So, yes, it was dense and with all these things in front of your eyes, it was difficult to see what was past it. Like land. Vast land. Maybe farm land and big skies. Welcome to Delaware. Now you can see.
Of course, what I’m writing about is more than just comparing Delaware and New Jersey. Or farm land versus forested land. Or densely populated commercial zoning. No. I’m getting at something and it’s this: sometimes we have so much in front of us we don’t see what’s behind it. Let me a bit more clear. Sometimes we have so much in front of us, like jobs, schedules, carpooling to sports, laundry, yardwork, dare I say, even church activities, yet forget what, or more accurately, who is behind it all. Yes. You know who I’m talking about. Our Creator. Our Maker. Our Sustainer. Our Sovereign One. The King of the universe. God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” You say, “I don’t hear God speaking.” Yes He is. He is speaking. He’s speaking even though your job, schedule, carpooling, and laundry are right in front of you. Have you looked past it to see who is really there? ”The heavens declare the glory of God and skies proclaim his handiwork.” This is very much about stars and skies that speak. They speak a language that only points to the glory of One. God is speaking.
Christian, climb out of the hole you’re in. Look past the trees. Push back the limbs and leaves covering your view. Get out of the fantasy world you’ve created and step into the reality of God’s glory. Look at God’s world wide-eyed in wonder. Look at God’s written Word with craved hunger. God is speaking. The Son is speaking. ”And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Let His words sink deep. May He give you new eyes. And as you use these eyes, you might find yourself saying “There’s so much GOD! Everywhere!”
In last month’s 
“What’s ‘pushing back the darkness’”? asked a lady. The elevator doors closed. The cable lines began to whirl and so did my thoughts.
To me, insects are the dragons and monsters I grew up playing with as a kid. I’m just glad God didn’t make them huge. It would be their foot not mine that might have crushed me. But I was crushed by the fierce reality of the glory of God while I looked at, of all things, a bunch of pill bugs in my compost the other day.
I’m posting this a bit earlier, so I can spend time with the family, my church, and with Jesus Christ, my Lord. Happy Easter! He is risen! He is risen indeed!
Today we made “resurrection cookies” with the kids… if you want to know what they are, ask my wife! In the meantime, read below for Saturday…
Selection of passages on what happened on this night when Jesus was with his disciples celebrating the Passover (went into the early hours of the morning) and that which would lead to His death and resurrection…
