Weekly Musing - Stephanie

Convergence:

In a local Bible study I attend, our teacher accentuated the phrase "train your eyes" several times during our session. This emphasis was to encourage us to become more aware of God's work around us. Her repetition of this phrase really excited me because of certain experiences I've been having related to seeing God working around me as open doors to participate with Him in His work. I'll call this experience "convergence".

Most recently, I'm becoming more aware of the miraculous all around me. I see the beautiful artistry of God in the sunrise each morning as I sit facing east with my warm coffee in communion with Him. With each blink of an eye the magnificent colors in the sky shift hues until the sun burns its way up the horizon warming the air with its powerful rays of radiant light. Like clockwork, the birds begin to sing and fill the air with joyful noise, then take flight for their daily provision of food and activity. It's my wakeup call and my energy begins to flow.

I've become fascinated as I read about quantum physics and how everything is in movement all the time, even as our senses perceive "material" as solid. As I consider quantum related to the Bible, I begin to see the miraculous magnified. For example, in the book of Exodus, Moses encounters “the Angel of the LORD” in a burning bush that is not consumed. The Voice in the bush speaks to Moses, telling him to remove his sandals for he is “standing on Holy ground”. It is interpreted that any Old Testament references to “the Angel of the LORD” are appearances of Jesus prior to His Incarnation into humanity. (For our Triune God—Father, Son, Holy Spirit—is One and in constant relationship together with each other all at the same time and everywhere.)

Who lead the Israelites in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night? The LORD—the Creator of the universe—Jesus, I believe. Who fed the millions of Israelites in the wilderness with manna and quail each morning? The One who fed the multitudes who followed Him by multiplying loaves of bread and a few little fish! Who was conceived in a virgin’s womb, lived a miraculous life, died, resurrected and is seated with His Father and says we are now also seated with Him in the heavenlies even though we are still present on the earth?! (See Eph. 2:6) The Apostle Paul indicates that we are actually in at least two places at one time. This is quantum and the WHO is Jesus Christ!

I love how God is always present in us as Holy Spirit constantly giving wisdom, inspiration, equipping, empowering and filling us with love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control to accomplish the same works that Jesus does and more. (John 14:2, Gal. 5:22-23) I only have one response for this at present, “WOW!!!”

As I allow my heart to slow its pounding in my chest, I want to express one more experience I had. I listened to the audio recording of a book I was once read to in class when I was in elementary school, A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle. This book fascinated me as a child. Now, as an adult considering all that I’ve written above it doesn’t seem so far fetched, does it? Quantum, I mean. Weird as it may sound, I love when things “converge" to give me awareness that God is always at work everywhere and in all things.

Lastly, to further illustrate my recent “converging” experiences, I’ve recently proof-texted a book in a series by Dennis Jernigan called “The Bairns of Bren”. The books, written for his grandchildren (the bairns), who are also the heroes in the books, are highly moving and imaginative. The context of the stories is how we can learn to navigate life when a loved one is suffering from a debilitating disease. In these books, Dennis, portrays himself as King Leo who has been cursed by the evil Sapaleo Parkinson. In reality, Dennis has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The book in the series that I worked on is Winifred and the Watcher in the Woods. In this and his other stories in the book series, I’m amazed at how Dennis uses his imagination to create poignant stories of how God is always at work all the time, and available to help in trials and suffering. And, yes, these stories, in essence, involve quantum principles!

My takeaway from all of these experiences is that these are not coincidences, these are evidence of a Good and Loving God Who is always and miraculously at work in all things all the time for our highest and best good. (Romans 8:28, Eph. 4:6, Phil. 4:13, Col. 3:11) “TRAIN YOUR EYES!"