I got back from Joshua Tree today with my class. Here’s some things I learned...
1) There is something so greatly amazing about being away. I do not mean setting aside time in our safe zones at home, coffee shops, etc. Though this was a school trip dedicated to astronomy and star gazing, I took every advantage to read Mere Christianity, and listen to some podcasts. This kind of thing is tough, as we/I have become so used to mobile technology. Even as I lost reception every so often I caught myself reaching for my phone. I think that says a lot about how much I use my phone; even to hear how much people wished they had reception made me see how much technology has taken over in our lives. Makes me wonder how we ever existed without it? The time I spent was incredible. To truly set aside time to seek, think and reflect is something I feel we do not do enough, not because we do not want to necessarily, but because of how we have grown up in our social settings, the things we’ve become accustomed to, and the lack of places we have to retreat to play a part. Yet looking through Luke we see examples where Jesus retreats to places where He can be alone. There is something special about it, something I know I want to incorporate more in my personal and community life.
2) Colossians speaks of Jesus creating all things in the heavens and earth. Romans speaks of God’s invisible attributes being made clear for all to see so that no one has an excuse. Sure there are things here in the city that are visibly show such things; sunsets, beaches, views of the mountains. But being in Joshua tree is really something special; clear skies, big beautiful rock formations, desert life, both plants and animals. But really what did it for me was the night sky. There is something about space that is so fascinating to me. There are starts, planets, globular clusters, binary stars, moons, meteors, and constellations. I don’t know how the others felt about these things that we were observing, but I just put on my iPod, and went through my Explosions in the Sky catalogue and just pictured God speaking it all into motion. That was probably the highlight of my day and a half. To know that the light from some of the stars took 25,000 years to get here, to be able to see Saturn through a telescope and see the rings and the moon, to see M-13 a cluster of stars consisting of thousands upon thousands of stars, the rising of Jupiter, and seeing meteors (shooting stars) is something that is so incredible, to me anyways. To think He created it all for moments like these, so I can catch a glimpse of how big He really is.
3) I got the chance to really evaluate myself on a social standard while being in Joshua Tree. I like to think that I have gotten better interacting socially with others and not being the hermit crab I once was. I think when it comes to the things of the Kingdom, talking about God, and interacting with Christians, I do very well. I don’t know if that is a bad thing when thinking about what it means for my interaction with non-believers. Or is it just easier to interact when it comes to issues and conversations we are familiar and comfortable with. Do not get me wrong I made friends and talked, hung out at tables with others and went on a few hikes with others, but I was still pretty quiet. I’m not really sure what to say when everyone talks about partying, drinking, smoking weed, etc. I have no problem talking about how I do not agree with a lot of the things they do, but only if they ask me about it, which no one did. I do not want to separate myself from them, but I want to be among them in hopes that they notice Christ in my life, that there is something different in my actions, talk, kindness, my thoughts, and the way I carry myself. It was nice that even as they saw me reading Mere Christianity they never shied away from me. They even called me “the cool guy” on a few occasions, which I thought was funny.
I guess the whole point of this is quiet places... True quiet places where we catch a glimpse in new ways of how big God is... When I got home today, and even on the road I got on my phone when I got reception and as soon as I got home I turned on the TV and lied down for hours. It's those comfort zones, my bed, I am a sucker. Maybe I was just really tired, maybe I saw an opportunity to be lazy, but comparing how much I interacted in reading and reflecting comes no where near what it was yesterday.
