Staring at the Sun

Hey all! I wrote this post as a reflection on a book I read for school called Conformed to His Image, by Kenneth Boa. It’s a great read, and it taught me a lot. I recommend it! These are a few of the things I learned…

     I’ve been told my whole life not to stare at the sun, but I still do. I don’t literally stare at the sun, of course. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to see. I do, however, perform the mental equivalent of staring at the sun when my puny, human brain tries to wrap itself around the concept of eternity. I hear the charge in Colossians 3 to “set your mind on things above”, and take it as a call to completely understand what my life will be like after death. In my current state, I can’t imagine anything without an end, so the thought of eternity can be blinding and paralyzing. The question remains, however. How do I “set my mind on things above”? Through the book Conformed to His Image, by Kenneth Boa, I learned that pursuing God is meaning enough for my life now, and throughout all of eternity.

  In 2003, the Hubble telescope photographed galaxies over 13 billion light years away. Some of these galaxies contained eight times as many stars as the Milky Way galaxy, defying current physical theories by their sheer size. God knows every one of the stars in those galaxies by name.  In 1968, Physicists discovered that the proton, one of the three particles that makes up the atom, is itself a composite particle. They observed an even smaller particle called a quark, which makes up both protons and neutrons.  In the scientific world, the quark was groundbreaking and revolutionary. God, however, knew about these incomprehensibly small particles since the beginning of time, when he spoke them into being. He transcends everything that we can see and that we know exists. Our God is one, but also three persons. From His character flow virtues like love, faithfulness, holiness and truth. Without Him, morality would have no foundation, and therefore, no substance. As Kenneth Boa reminds us, “Ultimate reality is not the cosmos, or a mysterious force, but an infinite and loving person” (pg 153). In short, God is wholly other. He is infinite. His understanding and knowledge literally have no end.

    Though we are not infinite, our souls are created to learn and seek after God. When He made humanity, He made us intellectual, emotional, and volitional, like Himself. We are meant to relate to Him on each of those levels. Only when we relate to Him are we truly whole on each of those levels. This is one of the most incredibly, ineffably beautiful things about God. This is one of those concepts that we will forever be learning about and trying to understand more fully. Boa defines this mystery well, “He [God] has designed to seek intimacy with the people on this puny planet, and has given them great dignity and destiny” (pg 29). Not only did God create us, He also knows us, and fulfills us. Ingrained in our nature is a longing for the truth. God- the God who created the smallest subatomic particle, and the largest supernova- offers that truth freely to whomever will seek Him. However, there is too much truth for us to learn in our short earthly lives. The learning must go on into eternity. As Tozer says, “There is simply not enough time to think, to become, to perform  what the constitution of our natures indicates we are capable of” (pg 62).

    The application of these facts to my everyday life encourages my soul, and quells my nagging doubts about living in a future without end. In my humanity, I am created to seek and worship God. As long as that is my focus, I will be satisfied not only in my earthly life, but in my entire life. “We will never be bored in heaven, because God’s greatness and knowledge are boundless; the surprises will never end, and the joy will ever increase”, says Boa (pg 161). When I learn about God, I am “setting my mind on things above”. I am investing in the thing that will continue to be the meaning and purpose for my life forever and ever.

    I am immensely encouraged by the idea that I don’t have to understand all of eternity right now- I have all of eternity to learn. I don’t need to stare at the sun; but I do need to live in the light of it. The glow of God’s everlasting plans should guide my every step. Right now, I can set myself on the never-ending path by using my limited capacity to seek God and pursue Him. Then, my life will be like that of the righteous person in Proverbs 4:18, which, “is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day”.  I can’t look at the sun now. I need it to live, but my eyes cannot behold it. As I move from this ephemeral plane into the Perfect Day, I will be changed so that I can comprehend more and more. I’m not there now, but that’s ok. I’ve only just begun. As Boa once again quotes Tozer, “For now begins the glorious pursuit, the heart’s happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead. That is where we begin, I say, but where we stop no man has yet discovered, for there is in the awful and mysterious depths of the Triune God neither limit nor end… To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love…justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart” (pgs 149-150).

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Top 5 Tuesday- Christian Songs Which Use Sci-fi Motifs

    They are out there. These are some of my favorites. I fully recommend that you find, listen to, and even buy these gems from the Christian music scene.

5. Stop the World- Randy Stonehill

Have you ever gotten sick on an amusement park ride and pressed that emergency stop button? Well that’s how Randy Stonehill feels about planet earth. After bemoaning the social and spiritual ills of the day, Stonehill quips that he “has to find a planet where they’re interested in sanity”.

4. Galaxies- Owl City

    Crossover one-man-band Owl City (Adam Young), tells what seems to be his conversion story in a poetic sort of space epic, all set to electronica-style music.

3. Rocket- Andrew Peterson

    As singer/songwriter/fantasy author Andrew Peterson weaves a story about watching a rocket launch with his children, he reflects on the explosive power of God’s love in our lives

2. Signs of Life- Steven Curtis Chapman

    The first verse is from the point of view of an alien trying to make first contact with humanity. The next verse is about an ordinary guy in his messy house, who happens to find a plastic spaceman in his chair. The whole song is about what makes humanity human, and what makes life worth living. Steven Curtis Chapman always knows how to get you with a good story-song.

1. (It’s the Eighties, So Where’s Our) Rocket Packs- Daniel Amos

    Seriously. It is as great as it sounds. Space age fantasies about the future meet up with cold hard facts, and the human race still has a long way to go in learning how to love. Just go listen. This is a fun, fun song.

So,have you heard any of these before? Do you know of any Christian songs with sci-fi motifs? Please let me know, so I can add them to my playlist!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

The Hero in Our Hearts

Warning: This post spoils all kinds of things, including: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, World War II, and American history. Just thought I'd warn you.

   

      From Odysseus to James Fenimore Cooper’s Hawkeye, from Gilgamesh to the Scarlet Pimpernel, literature from centuries past abounds with noble characters. These fictional people served as examples for the public to attain to. However, the modern deconstructionist mindset, and attraction to villains and antiheroes seem to have shoveled out a grave for the heroes of old. In fact, some may question whether the concept of a hero is still relevant in today’s world. Has humanity outgrown the need for heroes? The historical figures we hold up as honorable, the stories we regard as classic, and even some of the protagonists of pop culture suggest otherwise. Society will never lose its longing for individuals who can be objectively referred to as heroes. What is a hero, though? Who can fill the role that humanity so desperately clings to? A hero is an individual who personally sacrifices for a goal greater than him or herself in the face of adversity.

     Every day, every person faces some circumstance that can be considered adverse. Taking the form of everything from physical disability to political strife, trouble is inevitable in this world. This is evident in our concept of story. A story lacking conflict cannot be considered a story at all. A character with nothing to struggle against will neither catch an audience’s attention, much less earn their respect. Popular culture is rife with examples of characters who face up against hardships. Frodo Baggins from J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy was forced to fight the increasingly dark and suffocating force of the evil ring of power that he worked to destroy. Because of the way he endured this awful trial, he is a prime example of a literary hero. History, also contains numerous demonstrations of the struggles of humanity and the individuals that triumphed through them. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill led his nation during World War II. At that time, British stood against Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, who was determined to conquer the small island nation. In the face of such evil, it would have been easy for Churchill to give up his difficult position, and leave the fate of the country in someone else’s hands. Instead, he chose the path of responsibility and conflict. The generations that have followed are greatly indebted to him for doing so. The struggles of life aren’t relegated to history and fiction. Perhaps you, like me, have met a young woman who had to stand against the adversity of a boyfriend who pressured her to act immorally, and withstood his disdain and rejection to keep her purity intact.  Without some issue to grapple with, an individual is not a hero, but merely a person who does something good.

     Sacrifice comes as a result of the trials that a hero faces. To take a stand against whatever problem he or she faces, a hero must lose something, whether it be comfort, relationships, or even life itself. Consider the Marvel Comics super soldier, Captain America, otherwise known as Steve Rogers. In his recent silver screen adventure, Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers was trapped by a villain in an airship loaded with nuclear weapons, and on a collision course with New York. At the end of the movie, Captain Rogers, choses to pilot the craft into a glacier, rather than let innocent civilians perish. Though he may have survived himself if the vessel had continued on its set course, Captain America chose the lives of others over his own life. This decision moves the appeal of the character Captain America beyond merely his physical powers. The history of the United States includes the tragic story of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., who frequently placed himself in mortal danger to further his message of non-violence and non-discrimination. He could have left the issue of civil rights alone, and lived an average life. He could have chosen safe venues, where no one disagreed with him, at which to speak. He saw, however, that timidity would affect no change on society, and deliberately put himself in situations where his life was threatened. Eventually, this decision led to his death.   Death, though it is the ultimate sacrifice, is not the only sacrifice. I am acquainted with a woman who donated one of her kidneys in order to save another woman’s life. Though she recovered from the encounter, her act of selflessness definitely qualifies as an act of heroism.

     A hero’s goal in the struggle and sacrifice they endure is not simply to be remembered for struggling and sacrificing. A sacrifice means very little if it is not for a purpose. Heroes give of themselves to further a greater cause. In the movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Mr. Spock exposes himself to lethal radiation to save his crew from the destructive intentions of a vengeful mad man. Because of his belief that his needs were overshadowed by the needs of his friends, his death was not meaningless, but incredibly purposeful. His noble act saved the lives of those he cared about most in the galaxy, and earned him the right to be called the hero of the story.  America’s first president, George Washington, led a ragtag band of rebels against the greatest world power of the time in order to establish a nation based on principles rather than power and tradition. The war he engaged him cost him dearly, and the work of founding a nation was far from easy. His goal of independence and a better form of government justified all these tribulations to him. The prosperous nation that America is today looks back to Washington as one of its foremost heroes. A goal doesn’t need to be so lofty, however, to be a noble cause. I would even consider one of my high school teachers, who made a four hour trek across Oregon every other day to continue teaching his students, to possess heroic qualities.

     Today, many skeptics doubt the existence and importance of heroes. It is important, then, to determine what characteristics are vital to our species so as to distinguish those who possess them. Three elements identify the people who ought to be respected as heroes. They struggle against some sort of adversity and give up something in the process, all with some greater purpose driving them onward. By this can we determine whether a popular figure, or a person we know deserves the distinction we give them. That is how we know what a hero is. It explains why the stories mentioned above warm our hearts, and call us to emulate them. Humanity still needs heroes. As long as there is trouble in this world, we will desire to find someone who can make the ultimate sacrifice to save us all.  

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Top 5 Tuesday- Mentors

    While mentors as a character archetype are usually associated with mythology and fantasy, mentorship happens to be an important part of real life experience. Back when we discussed Bible sidekicks, I talked about discipleship. Discipleship would be a bit challenging if there was only a willing disciple and no one there to lead them. Nevermind that, it would be impossible. Even outside of a spiritual growth context, mentors are indispensable. Without the influences of parents, teachers, coaches, older siblings, and others, we would never have become the people we are today. So, since mentorship is so deeply ingrained into humanity, science fiction couldn’t leave all the good mentors to fantasy.

    Here are some of sci-fi’s best guides and supporters, who have shaped its best heroes.

5. Wilf (Doctor Who) -

  

 The grandfather of the Tenth Doctor’s companion, Donna Noble, Wilfred Mott always believed that there was more to life than meets the eye. It can be safely assumed that his influence on his granddaughter caused her to give up her ordinary life and dash through space and time with an eccentric alien.  

4. Bra’tac (Stargate SG-1) -

    Bra’tac was Teal’c’s Jaffa teacher and father figure while he lived on Chulak. After Teal’c joined the SGC, the two men remained loyal to one another, and aided each other in the fight against the Goa’uld, and for Jaffa freedom.

3. Yoda (Star Wars) -

    In his 900-some years, Jedi master Yoda trained just about every Jedi in the Star Wars saga at some point. This is impressive, due to the fact that he can be a bit hard to understand. Don’t get any preconceived notions about his stature, however. Though wars do not make one great, Yoda knows how to fight one when necessary.

2. Alfred (Batman) -

After the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents, Alfred became a father-figure to the boy. When Bruce grew up and became a crime fighter, Alfred contented himself to remain his butler, taking care of the mansion, and offering sage advice about life. Though this selfless mentor could have asked much more for himself from the millionare-by-day-crime-fighter-by-night, he maintained his post in order to offer quiet but vital support.

1. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars)-

When most people think of mentors in science fiction, Obi Wan Kenobi is probably one of the first to spring to their minds. He encouraged, trained, and empowered Luke Skywalker to fight against the oppressive empire, and stand for the light side of the force. He was such faithful mentor that he continued offering guidance even after his own death. Though some of his flaws were revealed in the prequel trilogy, he was still an essential teacher figure throughout all of Star Wars (so far, that is. But I am sure Old Ben’s influence will still be felt in the next installments.)

So, how did I do? You may notice that I geared this article towards my Star Wars-loving side. You may also notice that no one on this list is from Star Trek! Impressed? I don’t see many established mentors for the main characters of Trek. Though, the main characters do serve as mentors for others. That was not my list, however. This was. I hope you enjoyed it. As always, I’d love to hear from you.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

The Main Character

Alright! It's finally here! Enjoy!

 On Thursday, I studied all these books. Every one of them, in one way or another, spoke to the idea that humans have a mind, emotions, and a will.

    The metaphysical aspect of a person- the part that isn’t made up of cells and molecules and subatomic particles- can be split into three distinct, yet vitally interwoven parts. (Well, in theory it can be divided. I don’t know of an actually, feasible way to divide the human psyche.) The mind is the intellectual aspect. The part of a person that stores and sorts information. The emotions determine one’s personal internal posture to information and experiences. Finally, it is with the will, or volition, that one chooses a course of action, and carries it out. The will can override the mind and emotions when necessary. All three of these aspects are important, though some personalities tend to be driven by one in particular.

    Why are we like this? It seems to me, that God built the mind, will, and emotions into us when He made us in His image. You see, God is three in person- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit- and one in essence. Though we can only be said to be one person each, our personhood has a sense of threeness to it.

    Fiction seems to have picked up on this facet of human nature. Our genre, science fiction, has many good examples that personify it. If you read last week’s Top-5 list, you know which one I’m going to talk about.

   

 Yep. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy from Star Trek. The reason I think they make such a good character trio, is that each of them seems to take up the role of one of the three aspects of human nature mentioned above.

   

 Bones is the emotion. He is the heart of the crew. On any given mission, he can be counted on to bring ethics, humanity, and passion into the discussion. Though his insights may not always line up with all the facts, they must always be considered before going forward with a decision.

    

Spock, as I think should be evident to most people, is the mind. In many episodes of  Star Trek, he is compared to a computer. He can recall and analyze information, and with little to no emotional bias, offer up all the possible solutions to the problem.

   

 Captain Kirk is the will. He takes what both Spock and McCoy, (and occasionally other members of the crew like Scotty), have to say, weighs their varying ideas, and makes the best decision possible. Sometimes, he has to override both the emotions and the logic in order to simply do the right thing.

    Therefore,while many may consider Kirk or Spock, or Kirk and Spock, to be the main character of the original series of Star Trek, I contend that the real main character is Kirk, Spock, and McCoy working together.

    
So, next time your emotions go on a rampage, make sure your will and mind hunt them down and get them back in line before they are able to accidentally cause the Nazis to win World War II. And watch out for people name Edith Keeler. If that made no sense, go watch “City on the Edge of Forever” from the first season of Star Trek. It’s a classic.

Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora