The traditional and very old hymn, How Great Thou Art, begins with, “O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made. I see the stars, I see the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout, the universe displayed”. Flying to California last week, I casually began singing this song ( in my head) as I gazed out the window. We were flying over a mountain range interestingly enough, called Sangre de Cristo (blood of Christ) It was a clear day and I was struck by the majesty of the mountains. I knew that I was experiencing a moment of blesséd blending! I felt connected to something greater than myself. It made me think about the very small world in which I live. The universe is incredible, filled with beauty, differences, new experiences and relationships just waiting to be lived and enjoyed fully. It also occurred to me that you have to lift yourself up higher if you want to see more. Literally, I was doing that by witnessing the magnificent expansive view from my seat window. But maybe we need ,as well , to rise up or climb higher than we sometimes do in order to see the whole picture in our lives. New relationships with others. Perhaps a new relationship with God. Even ourselves. Zaccheus from scripture, knew he needed more and he desired to see Jesus. In order to do this, he had to climb a tree. Living with a small stature,he made himself “taller” in order to find God. When Zaccheus’ and Jesus’ eyes met and they connected, he was then called down to join Christ in the sacred space that was always there but he had been missing. He was able to see himself in the eyes of Christ and encounter the divine on his own level. ” If you have eyes to see, SEE. If you have ears to hear, HEAR.” Open up that heart that has been given the ability to find true resurrectional moments. They are all around us. Be aware of the world and its giving grace. Look, listen, climb higher.
Jim Dunn
Blesséd Blending
March 7, 2016