After a recent viewing of the stars without manmade light pollution, I have been pondering how my efforts might obscure whatever is glorious. Just as manmade lights diffuse the beauty of the stars, in what ways might I be clouding the natural wonder around me? Perhaps reducing manmade diffusion can reveal glory unobscured.
Note. This image was created using Microsoft Copilot.
My Mysterious Mind
The road to my house crosses a lake within a mile before I arrive home. The expanse of the heavens is uncluttered above me; there are no electric lines or structures to obscure my heavenly view. During the daytime I marvel at the colors and cloud patterns in this corridor free of manmade intrusions. After dark, however, the view saddens me.
With the diffusion of light from adjacent residences and businesses, only a few of the brightest stars are ever visible at night. What could be a glorious view of the night sky is obscured by manmade light pollution. Why do humans insist on generating so much artificial light during times of nocturnal beauty?
Beyond the physical obscuring of the starry heavens, how might this be a metaphor for my work? Instead of allowing the glory of something or someone else to be visible, I sometimes try to shine my own light, drawing attention to me. This “look at me,” glory-seeking behavior, only detracts from the more glorious display of others.
I wonder about a “look at others” or “look at God” approach to glory instead of the default “look at me” stance. I’m not sure my selfish nature can be completely redirected, but it might be a worthy direction. My light shines only a tiny bit compared to the collective glow of others and the majestic splendor of the Creator.
What about you? Do you tend to want the glory, or to redirect the glory to others? When complimented, is your automatic reaction “To God be the glory” or “I had a lot of help from my team” or to absorb the compliment such as to enhance your own glory? How can we reduce our manmade diffusion so the greater glory can shine unobscured?
Message of Mystery Acres
This past Sunday I finally had a bit of time in my beloved forest. After driving two hours for my little brother’s retirement party, my husband and I chose to drive one hour to Mystery Acres instead of driving home. This placed us a little over an hour from home for Monday’s return. Plus, we were able to enjoy a night in our cabin and several hours there on Monday. Arriving well after sunset, we shuffled around in the dark to get set up for the night.
I was so focused on getting everything carried into the cabin that I almost missed the glory above me. The cloudless sky, unobscured yet by moonlight, was filled with stars. It was one of those rare nights when the stars appeared to be everywhere, more than the human eye could perceive. Rather than just collapsing into bed, I changed into my pajamas, grabbed a lawn chair, and sat outside.
Leaning back, Oscar on my lap, I turned my gaze upward. The glory was more than I could absorb. I allowed my eyes to adjust to the darkness of the forest and then slowly walked out to the road for a better view. I stood in the stillness of the night, trying to comprehend the incomprehensible.
Soon my husband joined me, headlamp glowing from his forehead. I shielded my eyes and asked him to turn it off. My night vision, now adjusted to the dimness, would be reset by the brightness. The two of us, with Oscar, stood in the forest opening carved by the road, and marveled at the big screen above. The spectacular sight of the starry canopy never gets old. We did, however, get cold and decided to return to the cabin for the night.
The message of Mystery Acres is to find a place away from civilization, pause from shuffling, and look up at the nighttime sky. Choose somewhere in the comforting darkness and just experience the infinite wonders above. Reducing manmade diffusion, heavenly glory is unobscured.
Ancient Mystery’s Voice
“Look up to the heavens and ponder: Who created all these stars?” (See Isaiah 40:26)
The unobscured night sky, filled beyond comprehension with stars, is a comfort to me. Like a celestial blanket, I feel wrapped up in the wonder and glory of what I could not possibly understand. Isaiah, when he penned what is known as the 40th of his 66-chapter book, must have felt as I do.
After 39 chapters of woe, judgment, and destruction, chapter 40 begins with the words, “‘Comfort, comfort my people,’ says your God.” This chapter is considered a cornerstone to the prophecy regarding the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The 40th chapter of Isaiah corresponds in comforting ways to the 40th book of the Bible, the Gospel of Matthew. Isaiah 40 verse 3 aligns with Matthew chapter 3, with both describing John the Baptist who announced the arrival of Jesus. Isaiah chapter 40 verse 5 is this prophecy: “the glory of the Lord will be revealed.”
The remainder of Isaiah chapter 40 is about the incomprehensible, incomparable majesty and power of God, contrasted with the limited, mortal nature of humans. People are described as being “like grass,” (v. 6), a “flock of lambs” needing a shepherd (v. 11), and being “like grasshoppers” (v. 22). These are not glorious depictions.
Isaiah wrote a magnificent portrayal of God. The Almighty “sits enthroned above the circle of the earth… and stretches out the heavens like a canopy, spreading them like a tent in which to live” (v. 22). As Isaiah directed the reader to “Look to the heavens,” he offered the challenging question: “Who created all these?” The answer Isaiah provided was “He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each by name” (v. 26).
Ancient Mystery’s Voice, captured in the 40th chapter of Isaiah, reduces manmade diffusion and magnifies the glory of God unobscured. That glory can be seen in the starry heavens and was made manifest through Jesus Christ. Looking up toward the star-filled sky, this celestial blanket of truth wraps fragile, human me in profound comfort.
Living in Mystery
What does it mean to live in the mystery of glory unobscured, reducing manmade diffusion? It starts with a personal evaluation of glory-seeking. Do you long to receive recognition for your efforts? Do your posts on social media become more valuable to you when someone “likes” or “shares” what you posted? When complimented, does your response take the credit or pass it outward to others or upwards to God?
Like most of what I write, there is a personal struggle from which I find inspiration. I confess to watching the number of views, downloads, and subscriptions for my writing. This validation of work can become glory-seeking. I sometimes wonder if the relative obscurity of my writing is protection from losing my most important audience. In my better moments I want my writing to bring glory to God, not to me. The unpolluted part of me desires to reduce manmade diffusion of personal glory so that divine glory can shine unobscured.
I suspect my struggle is also your struggle, though it likely looks different. Are you hurt if no one notices what you did? Does jealousy grab you when someone else is recognized and you are not? Are you haunted by a sense of obscurity, longing for a moment of fame? Vanity cries, “What about me?” Humility quietly asserts, “My efforts are successful by the grace of God.”
As an old mom to young parents, I encourage you to take your children somewhere they can see the sky at night, unobscured by manmade lights. Instead of purchasing larger and even larger screens for your home, watch the big screen of nighttime heavens. Share the comfort of the celestial blanket with your children, the glory of God unobscured descending to wrap around you. The same God who calls each star by name also beckons each of your children to Him. The heavens are declaring the glory of God; go listen to this declaration with your children.
Our feeble efforts to shine in this world are like artificial lights on an otherwise dark, star-filled sky. May we instead drop to our knees in the presence of our Creator, looking up for His face to shine on us. If we glow, may it be because of the glory of God shining on us. As we reduce our manmade efforts to claim glory, the true glory of the Lord can shine brilliant and unobscured.
Connecting with Mystery
Dear Lord of All Mystery, I confess to wanting glory for myself. Instead of “Look at me!”, help me to proclaim, “Look at God!” I am fragile and fleeting like grass, stubborn and foolish like a lamb, and tiny as a grasshopper compared to You. Nonetheless, You call me by name and wrap me in the celestial blanket of Your comfort. Thank You hardly seems enough, but thank You. Amen.
Notes from Dr. Mac
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