The Power of Looking Up
written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs on your head are all counted. ”
I was in an open spot in the Rockies. My family was living in Colorado, and I was in third grade. I remember lying on the ground, looking up at the stars, and feeling awed by their breadth and distance. It was the first time I remember feeling insignificant. If the universe is that vast, and the earth is tiny, then perhaps our solar system isn't indispensable. Then it hit me with full force, "If the universe is that big, how much time does God have for our planet?" Then, it became even more concerning. "How much time could God have for me?"
That memory of looking up at the stars must have had a huge impact because I still remember it more than 54 years later. On one level, my 3rd grade self was correct. We are insignificant. There are 8.2 billion people on this little planet alone. One would not blame God for not knowing or having time for little old you and me. Yet, the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, proclaimed that the God of the universe knows when a sparrow falls from the sky and even knows the number of hairs on our heads. That is the definition of Almighty.
Yes, our bodies are insignificant in the universe's vastness, but our being, body, and soul are significant to the universe's creator, redeemer, and sustainer. You need not ponder long to appreciate the miraculous gift God gives in paying attention to each of us. Yet, we humans are so out of touch that we ignore, deny, and even insult the God who is offering us attention, affirmation, friendship, and an eternal covenant. Gratitude toward God should be constantly in our minds and on our lips.
Today, preferably after dark, walk outside and look up at the sky. Have your moment of insignificance. If you had a childhood look at the sky experience, try to feel the anxiety of young you, facing your own insecurity. Then, after pondering God's vastness, offer a heartfelt prayer of gratitude for the time, energy, and love the Almighty Creator offers you each day. Ask the Holy Spirit to provide new and more profound ways of appreciating the God who notices you and desires an intimate relationship, now and for all eternity.
