This weekend, my family and I are exploring the Isle of Skye, situated near the coast of northwest Scotland. I’ve been to some beautiful places before, but I’ve never experienced such a spectacular display as I’ve experienced here. Words and pictures really cannot do it justice. I find myself in the midst of mountains, waterfalls, lakes, wildlife, strong winds, and ominous-looking clouds that make me feel emotions I’ve never really felt before.
As I was walking tonight, surrounded by mountains, I felt overwhelmed by the glory I was witnessing. And, then, I realized that even what I’m observing is relatively small compared with the grandeur of the entire universe. The whole experience has left me with a sense of awe, including a kind of fear. However, this is not the usual kind of fear. The kind of fear I felt tonight feels different than anything I’ve ever felt before. Perhaps this kind of fear only can come when faced with the reality that you are in the presence of something much greater than yourself. This helps me to make sense of the Bible’s teaching that fear can be good and, indeed, the beginning of all knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).
I’ve always been taught, and have believed, that God is powerful. But, in some ways, the reality of that idea has escaped me. When I’m in this setting, I experience a new appreciation for the kind of power that God must have. God must be SO great to have created all of this! This is good for me to realize because it teaches me that, ultimately, I am not in control. There is something much larger than me operating in the universe.
And, yet, I am reminded of the paradox that, while God is so mighty, God also was so willing to be made little, to become a person, to suffer, and to show mercy, grace, and love to otherwise insignificant people like myself. This combination of power and love is difficult for my brain to wrap itself around, but just getting a whiff of it revolutionizes my mind. It shows me much God must treasure each and every one of His children, including me, and how God calls His followers to act in radical ways that express this truth to a world that, whether it knows it or not, desperately wishes for this to be the case.
In the end, I have come to realize that there exists a God that smashes every conceivable preconception that us tiny humans might have, even at our best and most insightful moments. I feel God’s awesomeness anew, but I have the sense that God is infinitely more awesome than even this.
Andy, what an inspiring passage. You’ve really captured something profound, something that I want to experience again. I have decided to take my family up to the mountains next weekend. Thanks man.