Looking Up
One of the wonders of Europe is the centuries-old peek into Man’s attempt to create a feeling of the majesty of God. Just wander through some of the cathedrals and look up. Here are some examples from my trip to Spain. If we can make this kind of beauty, imagine what the ceiling looks like in heaven.
Skip
Skip – Even as grand and yet limiting these cathedrals are, at least there was a sense of first needing to “look up” before anything else (including me) could be evaluated at the “ground level.” We have lost this sense of perspective in our “ground level” narcissistic culture. Instead of challenging believers to “look up” and respond by fearing God (beginning of wisdom), the vast flow of spiritual leadership today seems to be happy enough dragging God down to our “earthiness” rather than vice-versa. God must meet our needs and demands and requests for answers…rather than us meet Him/His…..Rather than respond to a VERY BIG GOD, we have lowered God in our lives by making much or more of ourselves. I doubt seriously that someday anyone will be marveling at our “church cathedrals”or as most seem to want to call them now, “centers.” Love the pictures. Thanks.
David, I think you hit the nail squarely. The central focus of the church today is not G-d centered but man-centered. How many are there today (I include myself) who tremble in His presence? Especially growing up in our man-centered culture where everything from the car I drive to the toothpaste I use is designed around the concept of “what’s in it for me”? Possessions, power, prestige,pleasure- we could go on with the list but everything revolves around the (eccentric-wrong center) of “ego” or self. Even in my “good deeds” I expect someone to be watching or to reciprocate in kind so I may receive some sort of recognition or honor. We have forgotten the words – “He must increase, but I must decrease.” These grand cathedrals give us a perspective of the majesty of G-d and the smallness of man. The question I ask today is how can we return to the G-d we once knew? If we ask our Father for the spirit of repentance and humility will He give it to us? Not many of us have ever been in the presence of a Pharoah or of Someone with the absolute Sovereign power of life and death in his hands. Neither do we know the G-d to whom we pray. The new- “I am a friend of G-d”, “me and G-d are good buddies”, “I was shaving with Jesus the other day”- theology is very popular today. We want our parishioners and “seekers” to be comfortable with their G-d. If we would pay attention to the stories of those who saw the LORD (now glorified), we would notice the next thing they did was fall with their faces to the ground wondering if they would be allowed to live. I may be a friend of G-d but He ever will be my LORD and my G-d. Oh, and by the way.. yes- He alone is worthy. There are so many today who are skimmers and skammers, posers, fakers and wannabees as Brennan Manning puts it. We are in vital need of the fear of the LORD today. We need to be awake and aware to the fact He gloriously reigns over our next heartbeat, breath and thought. Today, we the “chozim” are the “cathedrals” of G-d. In the Old Testament G-d had a temple for His people. In the New Covenant of the blood of His tslav, Elohim has a people for His temple. Thank you Skip for this reminder of the glory that once was and the glory yet to be.
Your insight is very useful. Yes, in the days when the magnificence of God meant something to the culture, we did look up. Today, we want a God who serves us rather than any edifice that encourages us to serve Him.
More photos to come later, when I get back.
Skip
Thank you for sharing these beautiful sites. The beauty of our Living God working through man to construct such beauty is in itself amazing. Looking up…the one thing we must all do…to a Holy and Glorious God! Blessings in Jesus, Kelly
Just another thought about the experience of taking these photos. Anyone who has visited a European cathedral lately notices two overwhelming things. First, they are EMPTY. Even during the Mass that I attended, there were only a handful of people. Usually most of the ones who are experiencing the wonders of these monuments are tourists. Where have the believers gone? Out into the world, never to return, seduced into chasing the gods of this age.
The second thing you notice is that most of these ceilings can’t even be seen. They are so dark and so high that their beauty goes unobserved. Some of these exposures were 2 seconds long. Even straining your eyes you could not see what the camera captured. That fosters another important observation. The God who watches over us goes secretly about His business, hidden to our blind eyes. He accomplishes His work without our awareness until one day the lights will be turned on and we will see His magnificence.