In the Olive Press with Jesus {part six: from within and without}

We are about halfway through the Lenten Season. Passion Week and Easter are just around the corner. This in-between time is tough work. The Ashes of Wednesday are washed off and we hunger for the sight of the lilies. The forty day ordeal–this time of self-reflection, of going inward and deeper, calling for repentance–enables us to discover that the continent of the inner soul is the real ‘lost continent’ and it seems so far away. How far?

Some time ago, I saw a film at the space museum in Washington, D. C., The Power of Ten. A man is lying on a beach, and the camera is 10 meters above him—10 to the power of one. The trip begins into space—10 to the power of 2, 10 the power of 10 and by now you are out among the Saturn rings. By the time you get to 10 to the power of 24, you are among stars that are light years from each other—billions of them infinitely larger than our ‘milky way.’ As I viewed this scene I began to ponder some questions: Who am I? Where am I going? Where will I be in a 100 years? Can an infinite God who is behind all of this care about me?

Then the camera reverses, speeding back to planet earth. And there is the man still basking in the Florida sun, but the camera doesn’t stop. It focuses on a square inch of skin on the man’s arm, and proceeds inward—10 to the minus power 1, 10 to the minus power 12 where you reach the cell, the basic unit of all life. And at 10 to the minus power of 24, you reach the atom. Our bodies are made up of billions and billions of these complicated, yet well organized atoms. If an atom were as big as the head on a pin, the atoms in a grain of sand would make a cube, a mile high, a mile wide, and a mile long.

I shared this little tidbit with a scientist-scholar and he remarked, “It is just as far within as it is without.” Well, where does this leave us?

We are talking about a Lenten Journey; the story of One who invaded the stream of history, fleshing Himself among us, God incarnate—as the poet W. H. Auden put it, “The Alien Unknown reveals Himself.” All the questions above have their locus in that Revelation and the immeasurableness of my world. The one without and the one within are under the custodial care of an infinite Creator, who dispatched the affairs of the universe in a twinkling of an eye. That being the case, the ‘inward journey’ leaves me with one resolve. It is summed up best for me by C. S. Lewis who said, “We are not imperfect creatures needing improvement, but rebels who must lay down their arms.”

When that happens, one covers far more territory that 10 to the minus power of 24; and in so doing, the journey is nearly complete and the ‘lost continent’ is found.

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I am grateful for my father’s contributions at the blog during this Lenten season. While reading his words for this particular post, I recalled a particularly moving scene from the movie The Passion of the Christ. I was able to find the clip on youtube. The first two minutes of the video hold this scene, and while it is difficult to watch, it helps me to focus on this “within and without”–God’s ever watchful perspective on his beloved, his created … us. Oh the beautiful, lovely mystery of God! One day soon, we’ll fully grasp the length, depth, breadth and width of it all. Until then, keep to it, friends. Keep to the cross of Jesus Christ. Shalom.

6 Responses to In the Olive Press with Jesus {part six: from within and without}

  1. So, so much about God and His creation that we just can't grasp. Just this morning another of those things that I just can't comprehend came to mind. Like you said, one day soon… Trusting until then!

  2. Good morning Elaine…I have been reading your whole series on this but have not had a chance to comment. How they are blessing me! The scene from this movie is just so perfect for what you are saying. Trusting Him always!

  3. Going out to the whole outer space so that I am a mere speck, and then narrowing it all down to another "speck" so tiny it is invisible to the eye… both ways, God's attention to detail is beyond my comprehension. He cares… that is what it all boils down to. But, indeed, that lost continent need not be lost, to think that we, each one of us, was bought at great cost. Redemption is not cheap… it's priceless.

    Love
    Lidia

  4. WOW! I am stunned again at GOD's Majesty! The Creator GOD is the Lover of our souls! Praise to His Magnificent Name!

    The quote from C.S.Lewis really struck me. In our culture where everything is "relative," the majority of folks are more willing to be fixed a little bit, than surrender their wills.

    Lenten Blessings to you and yours~

  5. Oh the wonder and awe of a God that would come to earth and die for you and me! May we live our lives in the shadow of the Cross, proclaim His majesty and bring Him glory!! Praise His Name for evermore!

    Love and Sweet Blessings!
    Jackie

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