The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 For decades our family has been going to Cannon Beach in Oregon. It is our favorite spot on the coast. And thanks to Cannon Beach Christian Conference Center letting pastors’ families stay free of charge every other year during the off-season, it has provided an inexpensive and, oftentimes, much needed time of respite from church responsibilities. I am writing on the first night of our three night getaway—a momentous trip in that, with kids in college, it could be the last time we are able to make this trip as a family unit. And with a forecast calling for rain most of our time here, a clear, cloudless night was all the motivation we needed to take a late night stroll on the beach. To our surprise, we had the beach all to ourselves. It probably helped that it was a cold night. And it also helped to be in a town on the coast that is much quieter than the larger cities to the north and to the south. Off in the distance I was able to see the dark outline of Haystack rock—one of the most recognizable features of the Oregon coast. But what was truly astounding, once my eyes adjusted to the darkness, were the layers of stars that filled the sky. I grew up out in the country surrounded by acres of hay fields and minimal light pollution, save distant porch lights here and there. And so, I remember, as a boy, climbing up on the roof and laying on my back to star gaze. Sadly, living in the ‘burbs, such opportunities are few and far between. As a result, when I do get the chance to find a dark spot from which to take in the majesty of a star-filled sky, I relish it. That is exactly what I was doing our first night at Cannon Beach—relishing the beauty of a dark beach where, looking west, all I could see were the dim lights of a few fishing vessels in the distance and whitecaps on the waves crashing into shore. But looking up, I saw thousands and thousands of miles of stars with varying levels of brightness and multi-colored hues. Some were bright white while others were a cool blue. Some twinkled, while others emitted constant, even light. Layers upon layers of stars were visible to my naked eye. All of a sudden the thought that occurred to me is how much I need starry nights to put life in proper perspective. How insignificant the petty concerns that so often dog me seem in the light of a thousand stars. But it isn’t the stars themselves that are so profoundly amazing—rather it is the God who set each one in its place. If the stars are so grand—which they are—how much more the God who created them and sustains them along with the rest of creation? It is the greatness of this God that renders my propensity to cling to petty grievances and concerns absolutely and utterly silly. And it struck me—how differently would I approach life’s trivial concerns if I could receive a nightly dose of God’s starry universe? What kind of inoculation against pettiness in my own life would such a prescription provide? Would offenses from fellow drivers, checkout clerks and restaurant servers seem important enough to warrant more than a minimal contemplation? Would negativity from the perennially dissatisfied be significant enough to dominate more than a moment’s reflection? Would my own sinful patterns and temptations wield the same power in my life? Certainly not…if only I could receive a daily dose of this majestic sight. Of course, this could never be. For even if I did live in a place without light pollution, the reality of clouds and rain and inclement weather of all kinds (of which we have our fair share in the Pacific Northwest) would preclude such a nightly revelation. And yet, the far greater reality to which this revelation points is not so difficult to come by. To the contrary, every single day I have access to the One who set these stars in place. Every day I have the ability to see Him anew in His Word. Every moment of every day I have His Holy Spirit within by which I can retrace my center, my hope, my life. It’s true…I could use more starry nights. Who couldn’t? But what I really need is to foster a deeper walk with the Author of starry nights. O Lord, give me eyes to see! Pastor Dan
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Dan GannonDan has ministered at Renton Bible Church, with his wife Debbie, since 2003. Archives
June 2022
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