Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: HISTORY (03/10/22)
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TITLE: Zoom Reflections | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jennifer Percell
03/17/22 -
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Over thirty years ago we stood with our small children in the St. Louis Children's Museum of Science. We were all captivated by the exhibit that showed our room on a screen on the floor in front of us, then slowly the camera began to zoom out to larger and larger perspectives. We became smaller and smaller as the picture pulled away from us. The room, the city, the state and eventually the earth was swallowed up in the enormity of galaxy upon galaxy. As quickly as we had evaporated to total insignificance the zoom reversed and came back from space into our familiar location in the comfortable center of our own universe.
I have reflected on that exhibit so many times, often changing the concept from our location in space to the equally mind-boggling concept of my location in time. I visualize a giant timeline on which we can race all the way back to when the earth was 'without form and void' and then fast forward to this very nanosecond, in this very certain hour, in March, of 2022. Either way, time or space, it is much more than my mind can even glimpse.
English offers me no word for quantifying my infinitely meaningless position in the enormity of it all. And yet, somehow, I feel as though the time and space I occupy is large and significant and very, very important. We tell ourselves we want to make a difference, leave our mark, change the world. But in our most honest and frightening moments the futility of our insignificance defeats us.
I ask a million whys and find no satisfaction in reason. I lie down in defeat with increasing regularity, then by sheer force of will get up again with every sunrise. Solomon described this meaningless life so well.
As I grow older though, I find that somehow each day grows lighter. When one day the burden of strength drops away, I can step back from the push and pull of heavy lifting. Another day the curse of 'busy' is shed and I can slow and inhale the oxygen of unspent moments. Millions of unnecessary files of information drop away as 'career' evaporates into twilight years, and there is finally room for all those once evasive reasons. Energy begins to fade, and curiosity has time to germinate. This winter of life begins to clarify insecurities and questions of purpose. The meanings of life are simplified merely because it becomes clear there is not enough time to resolve the weightier matters of existence. ‘Such is life’ becomes an acceptable answer.
As we age, we are less absorbed by self, the endless obsession with 'when I finally get (or do or have)’ gives way to priceless memories of what I have done and loved. Our story begins to be woven of the threads of all that we have seen, known, and cherished. As our history unfolds, we see regrets, joys and treasures and in retrospect we understand that we don't have assurance of tomorrow, we only have our history. All that has gone before us and molded us into the person we are now holds our place in the space-time continuum.
Understanding that we cannot rewrite this history can be frightening. But for those who have reached this age of reflection there is one history that never disappoints. The history that offers hope through the story of mankind, as written by the Author of Life. The God of this vast creation understood the need for history. And from this need comes the priceless answer to all the questions of mankind. Stories with antagonists and protagonists hand selected by the Master Author. Greed, murder and brutality meet compassion, honesty and generosity. Very imperfect people are touched by the Master and transformed by love into world changers. Small acts of courage save nations and cups of water bring eternal rewards.
In 66 books of birth, heartbreak, redemption, and resurrection, every single need of every single soul in all of the giant timeline is met. And every single minuscule life that time and space ever witnessed, finds its place, and eternal purpose, as a precious child of God.
The greatest story ever told, your story within HIS-story.
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I enjoyed it very much.