Small World
Do you know how big the world is? It's all the big. It's frikkin huge. Like HUGE. It grinds my gears whenever anyone says, "small world." I'm like, "No, Laura, it's a small county, and you've never been outside the state."
Even the county is huge! Yes, you may bump into people that are also from Pennsylvania. Homogeneity will do that to a person. Still, have you ever looked inside someone's heart? I'm not talkin' literally (though that'd be a story on its own).
Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
What does that mean? In one sense, it doesn't matter. ETERNITY. IN A HEART. When you start dealing with things like eternity and infinity, everything goes haywire. I will tell you this much though: it's big.
But, if yer not looking for it, you'll miss it. It's like Men In Black: there was a cat that had a necklace, and there was a whole galaxy inside the jewel hanging from the necklace. Eternity can sometimes be found in the smallest spaces. So yeah, it's a whacky paradox, but it really just depends on your perspective.
Are you looking for small vs. big — or empty vs. full?
The world is so full: full of life and death, hopes and pains. When you start looking, you start seeing, and it's a lot! It's too much, but that's how we grow: we take on something that is a little too much, and we grow.
Craziness.
I'm not sure what I'm trying to express. Mostly, the world keeps getting bigger, and it presses down on me like some miserable, beautiful weight.
I wrote a poem about it once:
That's what it feels like though: God's love crushing me. It reminds me of the feeling that I'm being squeezed, that the crap is being squeezed out of me.
I still haven't read the book, but the title at least comes to mind: "The Weight of Glory."
His glory is heavy.
Sometimes, people wonder why God doesn't just show up. You should read "The Great Divorce" by C. S. Lewis.
We're frail, so frail. If God showed up in His full splendor, we'd be obliterated. Just inching closer to Him has shown me how flimsy I am.
By His grace, I grow.
Even the county is huge! Yes, you may bump into people that are also from Pennsylvania. Homogeneity will do that to a person. Still, have you ever looked inside someone's heart? I'm not talkin' literally (though that'd be a story on its own).
Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
What does that mean? In one sense, it doesn't matter. ETERNITY. IN A HEART. When you start dealing with things like eternity and infinity, everything goes haywire. I will tell you this much though: it's big.
But, if yer not looking for it, you'll miss it. It's like Men In Black: there was a cat that had a necklace, and there was a whole galaxy inside the jewel hanging from the necklace. Eternity can sometimes be found in the smallest spaces. So yeah, it's a whacky paradox, but it really just depends on your perspective.
Are you looking for small vs. big — or empty vs. full?
The world is so full: full of life and death, hopes and pains. When you start looking, you start seeing, and it's a lot! It's too much, but that's how we grow: we take on something that is a little too much, and we grow.
Craziness.
I'm not sure what I'm trying to express. Mostly, the world keeps getting bigger, and it presses down on me like some miserable, beautiful weight.
I wrote a poem about it once:
I feel life’s weight, and I need Your strength(Let me know if ya want the whole thing.)
To hold this feeble frame forever,
For, as You know, all days are circumscribed
By Your grace. ...
Please do not take away life’s weight from me
(Since it is just Your love piling on my soul).
That's what it feels like though: God's love crushing me. It reminds me of the feeling that I'm being squeezed, that the crap is being squeezed out of me.
I still haven't read the book, but the title at least comes to mind: "The Weight of Glory."
His glory is heavy.
Sometimes, people wonder why God doesn't just show up. You should read "The Great Divorce" by C. S. Lewis.
We're frail, so frail. If God showed up in His full splendor, we'd be obliterated. Just inching closer to Him has shown me how flimsy I am.
By His grace, I grow.
“Small Corridors”…I remember that one; it was my favorite! Yes, please, I’d love to reread the whole thing. I was so sad when you took it down! I remember feeling when I first read it that it put words to prayers and feelings towards the Lord that I had not hitherto been able to express.
ReplyDeleteEcclesiastes 3:11 is such an intriguing verse. I’d love to do a full study on it someday. Even though the “correct” meaning is still such a mystery to me, I made reference to it too in one of my blog posts: https://writersblock2buildingblocks.blogspot.com/2017/12/divinely-dissatisfied_14.html.
Infinity. This post of yours reminded me of another one I loved: http://insidethemindofanathan.blogspot.com/2017/11/uncountably-merciful.html.
What happens when God’s infinitude meets our limits? “When you start dealing with things like eternity and infinity, everything goes haywire.” Indeed. Remember from math class all the possible outcomes when multiplying infinity by zero? When God’s infinite love, power and mercy meet the zero that I can contribute, the result is a beautiful testimony to the only one who can create something out of nothing.
I'm sorry that I forgot to respond to this!
DeleteHere is the poem you requested:
Small Corridors
I feel life’s weight, and I need Your strength
To hold this feeble frame forever,
For, as You know, all days are circumscribed
By Your grace. If I were to sever
Your presence in my life, my very molecules
Would shatter—no matter, I’m Yours,
But I am still so timid, so nervous
About diving into a life of light, a life that soars
On the breaking of each new day. My heart is so small,
So weak. It cannot keep all of Your joy
In such small corridors. It hurts to have my heart’s halls stretched.
For, when I open to You, I destroy
My boundaries: and enters in so much longing,
Infinite longing, for You are all that fits.
I am scared of desiring everything, feeling everything.
Generally, I grow by bits and bits,
But these leaps and bounds make my heart sore.
I implore You to give me the strength,
The strength not to cry every time I don’t understand
Why my heart is aching. Give me the strength
To honor those whom You love. Give me the strength
To wildly chase after You – for You will make me whole.
Please do not take away life’s weight from me
(Since it is just Your love piling on my soul).
- 9/22/2009
Thank you, Nathan! This poem struck such a chord with me from the instant I first read it. I am delighted to be able to reread it and pray this prayer myself to the Lord. Thank you.
Delete