Glimpses of Glory
"As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:11).
Ginger took the photo above when we were on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina a number of years ago. The trees, as you can see, were ablaze with the beauty they display when their leaves turn. Just revisiting the photos from this trip the other day created in me an inner longing.
Sometimes it's hard to articulate, but I know we've all had this experience. Maybe for you, it was the sky lit up with the pastels of sunrise or sunset. Perhaps it involved an hour on the beach at night looking up at the stars and listening to the crash of the ocean waves. Maybe it was just a moment on your porch when you sat in silence, listening to the cicadas and crickets. Whatever your times of awe in nature might entail, I think they move us because creation itself points to its maker in a way that has us miss him.
Now, I know God is always close to his people because his Spirit resides in us. But there will come a day when we will see the Lord face to face, and the glory of his presence will light up our hearts and dispel all darkness.
In our upcoming Old Testament reading, that glory broke into the world in the form of a flaming chariot and horses, sweeping Elijah into heaven as it departed. But before he was taken, he told his student, Elisha, that he would receive his request (a double portion of Elijah's spirit) if he saw him as he was taken away. It's an amazing story that gives us a glimpse into the awesome realm of God's dwelling.
But I want to suggest (as I have before) that we also have access to glimpses of glory. Scripture says that creation declares the glory of God. But like Elisha, we must be intentional about setting our gaze on it. So much in this world distracts us from the beauty that God has placed all around us – beauty that points to the glory of the Lord. And it's only when we recognize and bask in his glory that we can be filled and inspired to share the truth of it with others.
So let's be intentional about taking time to revel in it. And may the blaze of trees with turning leaves sweep us up into God's presence where we experience the overwhelming wonder of his glory.
Fr. Darin+