“This is what the Celtic Christians call a thin place — a place where heaven invades earth, a place where eternity invades time. We are a little more alive because we are a little more aware.”- Mark Batterson
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings to search things out.”- Proverbs 25:2 (ESV)
In Chapter 2 (“Playfulness”) of A Million Little Miracles, Mark Batterson relates an incident in the life of writer Arthur Gordon. Late one night, long after young Arthur fell asleep, his father came into his room and scooped him up. Then he carried the sleepy Arthur down to the beach. There he told the groggy Arthur to look up into the night sky and watch.
As Arthur looked up, he witnessed shooting star after shooting star streak across the northern sky. Above all, even six decades later, the night of falling stars ranked high on Arthur’s list of memorable life events. Therefore, Pastor Batterson asserts, it’s just as important to steward moments as it is to steward money.
King Solomon, Mark notes, sat on a truly magnificent throne. Overlaid with gold, inlaid with ivory, onyx, and pearls. Six steps led to the throne and two sculpted lions stood at each side. Yet, Solomon really loved long walks through God’s palace. The king came alive in nature. Above all, Mark states, after one of those long walks, Solomon penned the words of Proverbs 25:2.
Most significantly, more than 2,000 years later, Sir Francis Bacon — originator of the scientific method — offered this comment on Solomon’s proverb:
“Solomon, although he excelled in the glory of treasure and magnificent buildings . . . yet he maketh . . . claim . . . only to the glory of the inquisition of truth, as if, according to the innocent play of children, the Divine Majesty took delight to hide his works, to the end to have them found out, and as if kings could not obtain a greater honor than to be God’s playfellows in the game.”
Today’s question: When have you experienced a thin place with God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The playfulness envelope”