Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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An X-Ray Cathedral
by miss poppy
I had a rather odd experience this morning.
I was taken down to a room in the radiology section of the hospital for a test called a small bowel follow-through. Basically, you drink chalky liquid and then have x-rays taken every fifteen minutes until the chalk makes its way through to the intestines and shows what is going on. It takes quite a while.
As I was lying on the table waiting and praying, the strangest thought came over me: I began to see the x-ray room as a cathedral of praise to God. As I started to extol Him, I became joyful in the knowledge that God is sovereign even in the oddest situations.
I looked above me and saw the metal x-ray machine towering over me and another weirdly shaped apparatus next to me. Behind me I could hear the clicks of my IV pump. In Luke 19, Jesus told the Pharisees that if the praise of His disciples was silenced, the stones would cry out praise to Him. As I looked at those machines, I imagined them as a chorus of inanimate worshipers, calling out praise to the One who inspired the minds of the humans who created them.
The room was transformed as I praised God and my consciousness of His greatness filled me. I prayed that even the x-ray technician would feel God's presence when he came back into the room. My mind extended to the rest of the hospital, and I was again filled with the impression of God's sovereignty and lordship in the hallways and rooms of this eight-story building.
I know God is everywhere, but I think I've sometimes had a tendency to forget how literal His reign is over everything. I know He's here with me in the hospital, but this morning I was reminded that He's also in every other nook and cranny of this place. It doesn't even matter if no one is there to praise Him. He's present in fullness and majesty as much in the janitor's closet as He is in the hospital chapel. He's not just in me; He's also outside and around me and everyone and everything else at all times and in all places.
I don't believe I will ever forget the transformation in my mind of an x-ray room from a mundane tool to a receptacle of praise for the King of Kings. Every valley shall be exalted, every crooked road made straight, for the glory of God. And He even makes square, windowless, radiology rooms containers of glory.
There is no place on earth that is not sacred, no building that is without glory, no empty lot without its share of grace because the King of Glory resides here. He chooses to make His home with mortals, to honor our structures and homes with His presence. He is both present and transcendent, at once totally accessible and totally magnificent. There is no place that does not bear His stamp. And wherever He is can become a cathedral of praise.
Where do you feel God's presence the most clearly?
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Comments (7)
in my room reading... in my room playing or practicing my guitar... if I'm listening to music at say a Starbucks reading... during corporate worship... during private worship... in my car driving while turning up the jams... in my car driving with no jams on...
i'm on the thought that when you hear Jesus knocking on the door of your heart, open up and you're in instant fellowship with Christ.... no matter where you're at....
I really enjoy reading your posts. =) And this one is so cool! You offer such a unique perspecitive on just stopping to consider God's presence anywhere and everywhere and how those "rocks" crying out could be things other than literal rocks. For me, it's usually easier to think of God's glory when I see an artistic structure, like a cathedral with forms made with the purpose to exalt God (I'd hope so, anyway), or beauty in nature or feats of the human imagination. At such moments I think, "Wow, thank you, God for such gifts!" And then I also think how dumb it is for me to ever try taking credit for the gifts He's given me. . .or when I forget and don't give Him the praise due His name before thinking about myself. Thank....well, HIM...that He is patient and keeps reminding us. =)
It's so encouraging to read about you praising God in your situation. You have such a great way with words and an amazing outlook on life.
There are a couple of radio programs consistent with my denomination I listen to. I feel God's presence more at those times.
There have been a few occasions I've played sacred music on the clarinet for my home church. I tend to try to concentrate more for those engagements than any other (knowing I'm going to be in the house of the Lord).
I feel it everywhere. Particularly strong around children.
I once read it this way in Isaiah, in a particular translation of the bible (i think it was New American Standard) - 'God is and is in everything'. It changed my entire concept of what 'sacred' means.
It's like If God ceased to exist, you would cease to exist. Because we exist within Gods existence.
Thank you for this amazing reminder!! I am most aware of God's presence when I'm surrounded by nature or some kind of beautiful/amazing surroundings, but sometimes it's great to remember his presence in really strange situations - like on a school bus, or in a radiology room. :)
I love the fact that, wherever I am - walking down a hallway, driving in a car, laying in bed at night - God is there and I can be connected to Him. I am more often reminded of His presence when I am quiet or by myself.
Thanks for the post! Great thoughts.