As much as we at Divinity are fully aware of the importance of being part of the technological world with using computers and relatively up-scale copier machines, not to mention sophisticated sound boards and Wi-Fi capabilities and a newer security system before moving onto worship and concert live-streaming, as well as the needed social media presence; with all that being said, we are also fully aware of needing to avoid it becoming our complete reality. For starters, we recognize that with all the advancements in modern technology, there will be some glitches with projectors and heating, for starters, and we find ways to manage in still worshiping God. But, we also boldly proclaim that becoming so infatuated with a variety of forms of screens and quicker access to…not-so-Gospel-news, the human mind and heart and soul can experience a variety of forms of deterioration.
Unfortunately, some of the heart-wrenching stories I have read recently over social media are from people who have been recently removed from their precious works with the most breath-taking Creation. Recognizing that attempting to manage national finances and budgeting is way beyond my pay grade, as I continue to pass on our own family finance documents to someone else who actually knows what the heck they’re doing before the lovely tax deadline of April 15, I still feel rather sad for those whose livelihoods have been shaken to the core: the people who we often take for granted whenever millions infiltrate a part of the natural wonder they so painstakingly attempt to care for with all they have.
Oddly enough, it was on this day (February 26), when the United States Congress established Grand Canyon National Park. Although, our family haven’t been, it’s supposedly one of those places that no matter how much you hear of others’ other-worldly experience accounts, no matter how many professionally-taken pictures you’ve viewed, no matter how much you hear the mind-boggling statistics of size and depth, Grand Canyon will still have a way of making you fall into the deepest love with the natural world. Then, on the same day 20 years later, Grand Teton National Park was added to the list. Again, we haven’t been, but the goal for us (most likely just for mom and dad in the future; trying to pull it off with all the children hurts the mind to even think about), is to visit all 63 national parks.
Granted, we have a long…loooong way to go, as we’ve only been to a few. But several years ago, we ventured to Acadia National Park in Maine. We took our dog along with us (our only dependent at the time), even though there would be a few instances when I needed to carry her up some steeper and rockier terrain. There would be a fair share of times when parking along the picturesque Atlantic vistas were rather packed as well, leading to some chaos, but with each long line leading up to an entrance booth, there was an NPS agent with a patience beyond understanding, answering whatever question we had as we attempted to plot out our day ahead, the same questions they probably had to answer with the scores of cars in front of us, all while sitting in a booth even if they would much prefer being out in the trees and the soil and the rocks and the rivers. All the elements of nature that us millions just want to look at and “awe” over and take some advanced-technology pictures to show off to family and friends and on social media, too, while those brown-shirt-wearers tend to all of it with an adoration beyond understanding.
If it wasn’t for them, I’m sure the three of us wouldn’t have found this path off one of the not-so-main roads: a path that seemed to be specially tended to in creating smoothness for the paw-walkers and maybe even the long-day human trekers, that led to quaint little sandy front to the ocean. After all the crowds (understandably so with it being a beautiful place and all), we had found our own little piece of breath-taking-ness as the sun set over the still waters. I’m sure it wasn’t the most beautiful place in all the national parks, but it was made beautiful in that moment. We fell in love with the natural world, yet again. We fell in love with the moment, a moment that will stick with us for a lifetime.
So, regardless of what happens with managing national finances and budgeting, I hope to God, with all possible hope imaginable, that such experiences can still be made possible for the paw-walkers and long-day human trekers, including the families who hope beyond hope to ensure the youngest of life can fall in love with the natural world around them. I hope to God, with all possible hope imaginable, that we human beings never forget one of God’s deepest yearnings: that we take care with even the slightest adoration for the Creation. And I also hope that the people who do tend to our national wonders will be cared for with the same compassion that Jesus himself brought to life. God be with them all, to say the least! Amen (so let it be)!
In Christ,
Pastor Brad