Bathed

Our downstairs is a typically dim place on account of  awnings and a front porch and neighboring homes just a few yards away.  But as I sat nursing my daughter the other day, a rare splash of sunlight made its way in from the window above and rested on us for just a minute.  The radiance wrapped itself around, causing the baby's chubby curves to glow white.  It kissed her lashes and downy hair, and shown through my fingertips and her delicate ears in pink softness.  I marveled.  It felt like a tangible touch of favor; a holy moment in which the gloom - that had seemed so impenetrable seconds before - had to go, and we were seen and known and I knew it.  It is a wonderful feeling to be bathed in light.

I think that this bit of beauty that comes to us in the presence pure light is reflective of a greater reality.  We live in a world that is bathed in God.  Dallas Willard writes of this in his book The Divine Conspiracy.  He says that it is essential that we as God's people recognize this truth:

"Jesus' good news about the kingdom can be an effective guide for our lives only if we share his view of the world in which we live.  To his eyes this is a God-bathed and God-permeated world.  It is a world filled with a glorious reality, where every component is within the range of God's direct knowledge and control - though he obviously permits some of it, for good reasons, to be for a while otherwise than as he wishes.  It is a world that is inconceivably beautiful and good because of God and because God is always in it.  It is a world in which God is continually at play and over which he constantly rejoices.  Until our thoughts of God have found every visible thing and event glorious with his presence, the word of Jesus has not yet fully seized us."

Willard suggests that often where the biblical record speaks of "God in heaven," a more accurate translation would be "God in heavens," speaking of the atmosphere or air that immediately surrounds us.  All space is filled and overflows with God's presence.  And, it is in Him that we live, and move, and have our being.  It is in Him that every living and created thing exists.  I'm reminded of this sweet quote:

"Earth's crammed with Heaven, and every common bush afire with God. But only he who sees, takes off his shoes--The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries." ~ Elizabeth Barret Browning

The idea of a creation permeated by God gives meat to the thought that the Lord is an ever-present help in our troubles.  He not only stoops down from a high and lofty place to aid us, but eternally dwells with us and envelopes us in His all-wise care.  Literally, not just figuratively.  Just imagine Him right there, surrounding you closer than the air you breathe, penetrating more deeply than the light of the sun on your face.  And, perhaps most importantly, He is constant.  For He does not change as shifting shadows, or as the fickle blessings of sunlight.  Every day, each moment, no matter our circumstances, injuries, or shortcomings, we are bathed in Him.  This is a reason for very great hope.

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Photo: David's hands in light.

Comments

[Peter]

Great post. Makes me wish I was there for that moment. Gets me stirred on some things I've been thinking recently. I'm going to blog right now on that, as a matter of fact. Thanks, hon.

[Andrea]

Cute comment above. (your hubby. :)

Miriam,
This is certainly profound. The Lord has been showing me the past couple of weeks that He is involved in *everything*--good AND bad!! Things I have read, my pastor's sermon--my circumstances--I am seeing this, and loving the revelation.
Your post reminds me of the hymn "My Father's World". (Google it if you don't know it. It's worth reading the lyrics.)

The light is so beautiful on our children. I was admiring it on my daughter the other day. It does illuminate the tiny details and beauty.

[Miriam]

Peter - I look forward to reading your thoughts, as always. :)

Andrea, it's a lesson that is taking me a long time to wrap my heart and mind around, and I think that it's something that we need to be continually reminded of! I love "My Father's World" and was thinking of quoting part of it in an upcoming post. :)

[Elise]

Yes, and how can we help but dance, when the favor falls on us? I love the thought - the truth - of God as our atmosphere, our oxygen, our breathing room.
Friend, you don't post often (I wonder why! They're all so cute!), but when you do, it takes my breath away.