Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory

The aurora borealis in East Tennessee? Yes.

Some day, I would like to visit Alaska. Maybe. Probably. As I’ve shared before, I have terrible travel anxiety, so even those places I’d like to see are subject to my mustering up the ability to actually go. But I do keep a list, and Alaska is on it. It’s primarily because of the scale and the sheer wildness of it all, but also because of the Northern Lights.

I’ve wanted to witness the aurora borealis since I was a child and saw a photograph in a book I’d checked out from the school library. I can’t recall the topic of the book, but the lights were in it, and it’s stuck with me ever since.

So when I read that a geomagnetic storm was bringing the chance to see them to my very own neck of the woods, I felt seen by God. That’s not an overstatement. I mean, I know that the Lord’s purposes aren’t anchored to the delight of an almost 50-year old woman standing on a little speck of land in East Tennessee… but I also know that his purposes are large enough to include that same woman’s happiness, simply because of His character and love.

The very first night, as I stood barefoot in the cold, dewy grass, I felt the magnitude of God. The stars were glorious, and I spotted so many shooting stars that the universe hanging above me suddenly seemed to be pressing down. And then, to my right as I started straight up into the night sky, a long, snaking shimmer of green danced. And to my left, a strong glow of red, shot through with white.

I called frantically for my husband, who had stepped inside because man, that grass was cold. My voice was the only sound; the darkness was quiet and complete.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

—Psalm 19:1

It was— and I can’t stress this enough— perfect.

I’m a homebody. But really that’s a nice way of saying that sometimes my faith has to throw major punches at my fear to get my body to leave its comfort zone of these 3+ acres right here. But God, in His great love, brought one of His glorious creations to me. How can I ever be worthy of serving such a King?

I woke up throughout the night, peeking out the window above my head and gasping yet again at the beauty I’d been given. In those still moments, the sleep sounds of my husband and preschooler humming in my ears, I felt God’s omnipresence. I felt His comfort, and I was surrounded by His peace.

This is the God we shelter in, friends: one who is personal even as He is universal. One who carries along the leaders of the world, and the forgotten.

One who remembers us and our whims… and commands the star our planet circles.

I stand, as always, in awe of such a Creator. How about you?

In Christ,

Heather

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