“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”—Genesis 1:2 (ESV)
I grabbed my children’s telescope at sunset and headed out to the porch. With unaided sight, I could see what looked like two stars very close together to the southwest, but I knew those heavenly bodies were actually Jupiter and Saturn. The planets were more closely aligned in our sky than they had been in nearly 800 years! The sight filled me with wonder, even without the enhanced view through the telescope.
The telescope was not very easy or intuitive to use. It took lots of meticulous pointing, readjusting and trying to find the right lens. Finally, I caught a glimpse of a striated pattern. What was that? Was the telescope really so powerful that I could see the surface of one of the planets? Then I lost that amazing view—more easily than I’d found it. I maneuvered again until I could gaze at the planet’s surface. Its brightness shone in the boundless darkness. All I could conjure was God—God in his infinite presence—with no words, just awe.
In that moment, I beheld the work of God in the vastness of space, and I became aware of his omnipotence. Even in his greatness and grandeur, he cared for me and loved me. Wonder and awe filled my soul because he loved little old, imperfect me.
Father, Creator of the universe, nurture in me the wonder and awe in all my eyes behold. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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