This latest picture from the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope or DKIST is of our own star,
the sun. MIT Technology Review describes the picture above:
“The image shows a
surface that’s divided up into discrete, Texas-size cells, like cracked sections
in the desert soil. You can see plasma oozing off the surface, rising into the
air before sinking back into darker lanes.”
Tons of these plasma
surfaces, all Texas sized. Makes me stop and think.
Everyone I’ve shared this
picture with stare in awe—atheists and theists alike. We hold our breath lost
in wonder at the sheer size and energy of this star. It sustains the earth, it
keeps us alive.
I believe in a Higher
Being. I intellectually comprehend that this is the same God who made the earth
and its inhabitants.
And then I take my
thoughts to the next step. This IS the same Being that wants to have a personal
relationship with me. Every day. The Greatest Being desires a relationship with
all of us—not from afar, but deep and intimate and everlasting.
I don’t believe God sits
up on some golden throne watching but not engaging. He is active in each and
every one of us. He tugs at our hearts to do the right thing, He turns our
hearts to mush when we see something beautiful. He is there in the everyday
suffering and joys alike.
As humans, we are drawn
to beauty and power. We see successful people and we want to get to know them.
We idolize Hollywood stars and powerful business moguls. And we think if we could just get
to know them or ask them their secrets, we could be beautiful and powerful too.
But how often do we stop
and ask God all those same questions we would ask the people we idolize?
The same Creative Power
that created the hug sun with all its Texas-sized plasma cells is waiting.
My guess? He’s got better answers than those
we look to on earth.
