The Splendor of God

How? When? Where? Can we see the Splendor of God?

Sometimes it comes to us on a grand scale and catches us by surprise. But, with the constant availability of streaming information, it seems harder to recognize. We are prodded and tempted to know more, hear more, and see more, and we wind up with crowded minds. So we must be intentional about opening ourselves to see the beauty and Splendor of God that is always available to us.

When I awake each morning, before turning on a device to hear news, music, podcasts, and updates of the world, I listen to the silence. The best way to greet the new day is with God first. Speaking to him. Thanking Him. Asking Him to bless the day and to guide me. I also make time each day to sit on the porch, listening to the sounds of nature and looking at the beauty before me. When I am in that space, I find it impossible to be anything but happy and content. It calms my body, calms my head, calms my mind, and connects me with God. I feel His love and His presence in all that He has created.

He is what matters most.

Give it a try! Ask Him what He wants you to do each day. God has a plan for you! He made you and put you in the world, don't forget to ask His advice for the day. Step away from the artificial light and see His Splendor as the sun rises and turns the darkness into light. It's brilliant! God makes the colors emerge on the horizon for us!

Step outside to be in natural air and light once or twice each day to remind yourself of the Splendor of God. Step outside and look up to the sky. See the beauty of His Splendor in the color of the sky, in the cloud formations, in the wonder of the grass, trees, and beautiful flowers. Feel the Splendor of God as the air fills your lungs. God created all of it for us!

I have come to know that when we develop the habit of looking for the beauty in every place, in every situation, in every person ~ we will find it, and we will become more adept at recognizing the Splendor of God.

We become more like Him ~ more loving and less critical ~ more joyful and less frazzled ~ more forgiving and less agitated. Even in the midst of a busy, rushed atmosphere, we grow to respond with calm.

Give it a try. Offer your day to Him and see what He can do in your life. You will be amazed by how your disposition and your life improve!

Last Sunday, we heard this teaching from the Letter of Saint James:

"Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace." ~ James 3:16

It is becoming more and more clear to me that fear is the driving force that causes disorder and so much hurt in the world. When someone has something better than us, fear can make us believe what we have is not good enough. When someone has much less than us, fear can make us worry that we will one day not have enough. This is true for humans of all ages whether the commodity is food, friends, toys, money, land, talent, beauty, knowledge, opportunity, possessions, benefits, notoriety -- you name it. It's how we respond to those feelings that makes the difference.

A dear friend shared with me that her young son has been struggling with a bully at school. I experienced similar situations when my children were young. This is one of those very murky, quicksand moments in parenting. We want our children to be loving and kind, yet strong and independent. But, when another child is mean to them, we want to jump in and rescue them from the situation. One parent may suggest reasoning or avoidance. Another parent may advise standing up and taking action.

My friend spoke to her son about kindness and forgiveness because hurt people hurt people. She wanted her boy to see the Splendor of God in the other student who was acting out, but at the same time, she didn't want him to be subjected to ugly name-calling and teasing. It is a difficult, thorny space to navigate. Her son is mild-mannered and thoughtful. He decided on his own course of action. He told his mother that if the other boy is hurting, then he wants to be nice to him. He chooses to respond with kindness and mercy. Isn't that what God wants us all to do? Wouldn't our world be so much better if we all learn to choose to respond with kindness and mercy?

Psalm 85 states a beautiful truth of the Splendor of God.

Mercy and faithfulness meet; justice and peace embrace. Faithfulness springs from the earth, and justice looks down from Heaven.

If we would all remove ourselves from the judgment seat and act with mercy and faithfulness, there will be justice and peace. Notice the order in the words of the psalmist; we on earth are made to grow in faithfulness, justice comes from Heaven.

Ask God what He wants you to do today. He has a plan for you!