I vividly remember as a teenager at church camp, sneaking out of our cabin with my friend Dennis and others, to go up the hill, lay back, and stare up at the stars. It was an incredible experience as we basked in the glory of God’s creation and pondered life. Unfortunately, we had no idea how precious that view and how special that experience was. As we were wowed, we were acutely aware that something (someone) far bigger than we, was in control of our very existence.
But today I notice that as I look up at the night sky, I can see far fewer stars than I could as a kid, and many of the objects that I observe are actually man-made satellites reflecting light from the sun. Instead of being in awe of God’s magnificence, I am more likely to be on a hill and hear someone comment, “Isn’t that view of the city something?”
You see, as light pollution has impaired our view of what is far bigger than we, our focus has become more limited – leaving us with a perspective that what man has built, is the pinnacle of creativity. When I am walking downtown, I find that my focus is on buildings, storefronts, and perhaps some architecture. But when I am far away from the concrete jungle, I am able to regain a sense of awe – a reminder that (as the Steven Curtis Chapman song says), “God is God and I am not.” This is a reminder that we and our world so desperately need!
Sky – 1968
Sky – 2021
