The Finite and the Infinite
The Finite and the Infinite
by Pastor Jeff Holter
As I drove on Skyline the other day, it was one of those overcast mornings with air so heavy that you could see the droplets of water in the air. It wasn’t the most inspiring kind of weather, just very still. So still, in fact, that time seemed to stop like a long pause after holding your breath under water. And in that moment of absolute quiet, I sensed the presence of God. It was not a voice or anything like that. It was this feeling that God was close.
Looking out over Lake Superior that morning, I was filled with the realization that my life and everything that fills my days seems like a single bleep on a hospital monitor. Perhaps I am just getting closer to the realization that all of us will have to deal with: that we are finite people living in infinite moments in time and that being finite creatures, we tend to live day to day without truly appreciating how short life can be or appreciating how precious life is and how quickly it passes.
Since this is the February newsletter article, I should probably be wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. Happy Valentine’s Day!! That being the case, and this article being what it is, let me add to that message the wish that you tell the people you love that you do, in fact, love them. This is the moment and this is the day. Take the time and embrace the moment to live fully into this time and special day!
Let me reflect a little bit more. As I was looking out over Lake Superior that morning, it seemed so endless. On a nice sunny morning, one can usually see the shoreline of Wisconsin. I can detect the outline of those distant shores, As I was looking out over Lake Superior that morning, it seemed so endless. On a nice sunny morning, one can usually see the shoreline of Wisconsin. I can detect the outline of those distant shores, but I think God is just showing off, and I marvel and scratch my head because God being God is just so beyond “Me.”
Here is what I am driving at: I want to explore God and get close to God. I do not want to explain God or take away the awe that God inspires in me every single day. I do not want to reduce the infinity of God to fit into my finite self. I want to always be surprised by God. I “do” know and hope to continue this infinite search until my finite self can be clothed with His infinite glory. At that moment, I will not settle for anything less than to know God in all of His creative and abundant life. To this end, I want to embrace this day and love those who I love and who, for whatever reason, love me. Isn’t life grand?
Friends in Christ… Peace!
Pastor, Jeffrey Holter
