Week 3: Day 4

Scripture: Luke 2:8-9; Psalm 8:1-9

I remember my first time riding on an airplane. I was maybe 8 years old. I remember arguing my way to a window seat and sitting with my eyes glued to it, terrified of missing anything. When we made our way through a giant group of thick and puffy cumulus clouds, I dreamed of what they would feel like and promised myself that I would touch them one day. "One day" came when my friend Chris was getting his pilot's license. He surprised me one afternoon with the easiest question anyone has ever asked me, "Want to touch a cloud today?"

We flew the tiniest airplane thousands of feet in the air through a ceiling of stratus clouds. Finally the wispy clouds broke and I saw something I will always struggle to find words to describe. It was as if when the clouds broke, the heavens were exposed, declaring the glory of the Holy. We could see miles and miles. It was just Chris and I and the tiniest plane and the sky and the sun and some giant fluffy clouds. And I had a hard time catching my breath. And I was terrified. So genuinely afraid at the vast and the light and glory.

Chris smiled so wide and nodded at me to open my window. We stuck our hands out the tiny cracks as far as we could reach them and giggled like children as we tried to grab the cold wisps of cloud. As if we were trying to catch the Holy.

The Celtic Christians talk about moments in life when the veil between heaven and earth is so thin it seems as if they are pouring into each other. This. This was a thin moment.

There were Shepherds standing in an ordinary field on an ordinary day, doing their ordinary jobs. In a matter of seconds, the clouds broke and the heavens were exposed in one of the most thin moments any human throughout history would ever experience. And heaven and earth for these moments felt like they were the same. Majestic and terrifying.

Prayer:

Oh, you are good, though, I almost missed it.

I was looking to others to find my worth and my importance. But you drew me near to your sanctuary and showed me the big picture.

Those who are far from you, they perish. But for me, I have found it is good to be near to you.

You are what I desire on this earth. Though my heart and my flesh will fail, you are my refuge, my strength, my portion forever. Amen.

-adapted from Psalm 73