Wednesday, January 16, 2013

God sees the sparrow fall

Sometimes we wonder how God can keep up - with so many praying and talking at once, each at their own pace, with millions of simultaneous requests, some in urgent life-or-death conflicts, and at the same time someone else sharing their thankfulness in the bliss of a summer breeze or an inspiring cloud formation.

But more often I wonder instead how He can slow down to our speed, fall into step with us, actually care about and love us, with so much else going on. Yet He can and does.

The Psalmist wondered as well (Psalm 8:4-6):
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

He created us in His image, we are indeed very special to Him. But it's more than that even. "What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it." (Matthew 10:29) (and "The very hairs of your head are numbered..." is there too...)

"Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord(Jeremiah 23:24)

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." ( Isaiah 55:9)

I know there are more. Some day these things will be clearer - "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12) - I'm definitely looking forward to that explosion of awareness, or eternity of learning.