Sunday, December 30, 2007

Atlantic

I'm not sure there's anything as good for realising one's own mortality and smallness than standing by the sea in a strong wind. it's so big, so lethal, so loud. It'll be there whether i like it or not, doing it's blowing, it's coming in and it's going out, it's entertaining and scaring. The sea is there. So often a friend on a warm day, it's just odd, in a humbling way to think that if i got into the sea it could kill me in moments, literally in the middle of December just a few minutes would be enough. It's very weird, but in a very liberating way.

One of the best books i've ever read is Shaeffer's 'The God Who is There'. And thats what the sea reminds me. There is so much there, so much in the world that is not reliant on me, which is a very comforting thought. We have eternity written on our hearts, which is why we, like Mr Anderson somehow intrinsically know that there's something else there. How can we not wonder when we look at the beauty of the sea and the sky, the seemingly eternal rolling in of the waves, how can our hearts not yearn for somthing more than celebrity big brother and more food.


Our minds were made to know Christ, our hearts were made to love Christ, our bodies made to fit the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thats why what we see with our eyes will never satisfy us. because there's more, there's bigger, there's deeper, there's more satisfaction. Thats why nature is so big, so good ,so wide, to make our hearts long for something more than what we can see. Thats why getting out from behind a computer is such a good idea, why going for a walk can expand your hearts, why just standing and staring at the sea can be such a deep experience. Because somewhere in our hearts it gives us a trace of the bigness and glory that we are made for, made to behold and enjoy.

1 comment:

nicola louise said...

agreed.

lovely oswald says "The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him."