This Winter, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about, locating, and taking pictures of the Aurora Borealis, aka the Northern Lights. To be clear, I am a novice. It has been a journey filled with wonder and the excitement of the chase. I have found them on nine separate nights so far this season. My highlight was this past weekend, when a G-1 Geomagnetic storm hit. Susan and I happened to be driving North to Fairbanks when we noticed a weak band of Aurora forming, and drove into a sizeable pullout north of Healy. I set up my camera, and before long the sky filled with dancing Auroras of various colors. We were amazed. The skies lit up, providing a show we had not anticipated, which we experienced with no one else around.
An hour later, the lights subsided. My hands and feet were numb and the knobs on
my tripod froze up. The temperature was
-27 degrees, not counting the wind chill. Susan had the good sense to stay in the warm car
and watch the light show. A State
Trooper was nice enough to check in on us, making sure we weren’t stranded in
the cold.
It was a magical night, one that I will not soon
forget. Since that night, I have felt
nudged by the Lord with a gentle reminder.
We should have that similar awe-filled wonder of Him. Seeking after the Lord is similar to chasing
Auroras in several ways.
Intentionality – Why have I seen more Aurora
this year than in the rest of my life combined?
It’s simple – I have looked for them.
That looking comes at a cost – time, loss of sleep, standing in the
cold, money for gas. The search has been
worth it to me and the same is true in our seeking after God. I am convinced that we do not have encounters
with God because we are not looking for them.
It’s time to put some intentionality in our seeking after God. As the Psalmist said, ““As a deer pants
for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” (Psalm 42:1, ESV)
Study – I have spent time learning about the Aurora
Borealis and have even learned a new vocabulary, including terms like Bz, Kp,
solar flares, and solar winds. My studying
has helped me to find the Auroras with greater frequency. In the same way, studying the Bible informs
our pursuit of God. We are not seeking
after a god who is unknown or changing.
We are seeking the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, existing in the
Trinity as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Being grounded in the Word will guide us in an accurate understanding of
our pursuit of God.
Avoid Light Pollution – This is the number one
rule in chasing Auroras. You need to get
away from city lights, as they make it hard to see the Aurora. When we are seeking after God, we must
determine to reduce the noise in our lives to allow us to hear the voice of
God.
Keep the Wonder – With all the studying I
might do on the Aurora, I never really know for sure how the show will
unfold. When it happens, I am filled
with awe and wonder and I hope that sense of awe remains. Let us keep a sense
of mystery and awe-filled wonder at the very thought of having an encounter
with the Living God. Let us never feel that we have God figured out.
What are you seeking?
Whatever you are seeking—that is what you will find.
No comments:
Post a Comment