Darkness had fallen across the South African land, and I knew I needed to get away. I just needed some time to think, pray, cry a little, be introverted so I went walking around PopUp’s compound and found a small tree. I climbed up it and started listening to Switchfoot, “Your love is a song.” (Go listen to it if you haven’t before.) As I sat in the tree I noticed a lighting storm miles off; I took in the frightening beauty, realizing it was inching closer and closer. While I watched, I remembered the outdoor balcony here at PopUp. I knew that the direction it faces would probably give an amazing view of the lighting storm so I climbed down the tree and made my way to the balcony.
As I walked up the rickety wooden stairs, I saw my teammate Jamal standing at the top of the balcony with his camera in hand. I climbed up to the top and took in the most incredible lighting storm. We talked some but I mostly just watched the view. The crazy jagged lines of light formed in a second of intense power and then in a snap it would vanish.
As we stood watching the wind picked up speed, the blossoms of the flowering tree next to us began to fall everywhere, and I started to hear thunder in the distance. Realizing the storm was even closer, I became more and more aware of it’s power and subtle fear filled my bones. I was captivated by the majestic view realizing the God I serve is much bigger than all of it and what I was seeing was merely the works of His hands. The fear of the Lord seeped into my being, because I serve a holy God, a pure God, a BIG God.
How beautiful….
We stood there not much longer when it dawned on me how much I would miss this World Race once it ended. These experiences, these sights, these sounds, these voices, these sweet moments; I will truly miss. Some days I really wish I was home, some days I wonder if this is all really worth it. But in that moment of watching a real life painting my holy God was making; I knew I was exactly where I was suppose to be.
My God is beautiful, just go look at the creation of His hands.
the works of your fingers,
the moons and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of [us]?
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than heavenly beings
And crowned him with glory and honor.”
Psalm 8:3-5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eojHVCyy8pQ&feature=g-upl
A little snapshot of what we saw, but really the video doesn't do it justice.
