Near Approach (12-27-2020)

Near Approach 12-27-20 Beginning Scripture: Psalm 19: 1-5 The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship. Day and night they keep on telling about God. Without a sound or word, silent in the skies, their message reaches out to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it and moves out across the skies as radiant as a bridegroom going to his wedding… Last week Jupiter and Saturn’s orbits aligned to give us a view of the so-called Christmas star. When we see two planets come this close it is called a conjunction. The last time these two planets were so closely aligned was 800 years ago. When two things happen at the same time it is called a conjunction. As I was reading Psalm 19 I was thinking about David and how as a shepherd he looked up and saw the work of his creator in the night sky. This was the conjunction of one of the great figures in human history and the work of his God in the heavens. Reading Psalm 19 I imagined David viewing the stars in the deep darkness and being struck by the awesomeness of the Creator. Thank God David left us the Psalms to describe that experience of the conjunction of him and God. And last week I thought of the conjunction between God and man in the birth of Jesus and how that birth resulted in his near approach to other human beings: his disciples, the leper, Lazarus, the paralytic, and the deaf mute. Lately I have been making extra efforts to journal and speak with Jesus to increase my sense of closeness to him. I have asked him to solve problems and give me guidance. And in this conversation I have had a greater sense of this man Jesus and his wisdom. I feel closer to him. I am enjoying and learning from this nearer approach of a human and heavenly body to me. And right here on this little patch of earth at Wheatland and Clark roads I am inspired by the witness of my brothers and sisters here, their near approach to God, and what it has done to and for them. Once again I recalled Brother Bob delivering devotionals here and how he got chocked up when he spoke of the work Jesus had done in him. Those brief tears left me awestruck. I praise and thank God for the near approach of Brother Bob to us. The Psalms have touched so many over the centuries. They remind us humans - believers AND non-believers, that there is something larger than us - greater than us in our busy, tiresome, and sometimes depressing days. The psalms lead us up hills and into valleys familiar to us. But they do it with Spirit, with style, with deep and real creativity. I think they leave us knowing the near approach of God at difficult and sad times, like the death of loved ones, periods of spiritual challenge as well as joyful times like weddings, baptisms, holidays, and other celebrations. Psalm 19 speaks of these cosmic, awesome, and beautiful moments, but it also reminds us of the need to be watchful and wary of hidden faults, defects and sins that we are not even aware of. This reminder along with so many more from the Word of God as well as from our fellow humans like spouses, kin, friends AND enemies are necessary to keep us on the path of love, kindness, and obedience. Reading Scripture does that for me. It is probably why the Bible is known as special revelation – revelation apart from the night skies and the silent reach of the creator across the Earth and heavens. This special revelation regularly pierces my dullness, my routines, and my apathy and causes me to dive deeper into the abyss of our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It helps me to dive deeper into the spirits of my fellow human being who sometimes aggravate, irritate and throw me off. The near approach to God in his Word, the regular conjunction of him and me has changed my life. In this period of worldwide disease and death it has given me something to live for. It is my hope that we will all use this time of year in particular to create our own conjunction, our near approach to God and to each other. Maybe it will only be by phone or video, maybe it will be with a letter, card or note. But I hope that the winter solstice, the longest darkness of the year, we will bring some light to each other’s lives. It is within our grasp. It is not far away. It is not as if we are in distant galaxies. It is up to us to bridge these small distances to reach out and draw nearer to others. Questions and Challenges • Go outside by yourself or with someone close to you and look up into the night sky. Notice what is there: clouds, stars, planets, ambient light from the city inhabited by others who share the same piece of the planet with you. What does the sky tell you? What message is there in the heavens, in God’s creation for you? • In what way can you decrease the distance between you and even those you might define as your opponents or opposites, those who have hurt or offended you? Prayer Dear Father Lord of the Universe, thank you for our planet and its many blessings. Lead us toward some kind of conjunction among us and between you and us. We pray these things in the name of Jesus our precious savior. Amen