Beauty

My roommate was asleep so I snuck out to the hallway and sat at the end where it opened to a view of the town and the sea. I had my bible in hand and ear phones plugged in. It was a spectacular night. Balmy and still but every so often, a light breeze would lick the ends of your hair as if taunting and teasing you with the promises of rain. Rain would be a much needed relief from the heat and humidity. As I sat looking out to the dark sky that night, I was captivated by beauty. I clenched my jaw as I smelled the thick, fresh fragrance of moisture in the air. It smelled good. Too good. Do you know that feeling you get when you are so overwhelmed with something amazing and your spirit is so uplifted you cannot help but frown with the intensity of the experience? This probably sounds weird but that happens to me.

So I sat frowning at the sky. And this is the great part. The lightning. Creeping, sweeping across the sky. Silent. With not a sound to announce its presence but the power of its light. A flash. A flash. Another flash. Each one looked as if it could light the entire universe. Each split second turning night to day. And in the background, music like a symphony orchestrated specially for nature’s performance. “He’s alive! He’s alive!” sing Shane & Shane in Embracing Accusation.

Looking at nature’s light show, I see beauty. I see that God is alive.

Science explains how lightning occurs. How rain forms. And shows us what happens when day turns to night. But science holds no reason, no purpose. It merely explains the existence of something. I do not live for mere existence. There is purpose for life.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

John 17:3