Tuesday, February 16, 2010

View from the Airplane Window


Yesterday, i copied photos onto my external hard drive. I realized how important this was the hard way - from computer gliches that permanently erased precious moments in time...grrr. But that's beside the point. As i copied photos onto Carl (the name of my external hard drive...don't ask me why, i don't remember) I looked through folders and folders full of old photographs - travels, birthdays, holidays, days spent photographing in solitude, reliving the bittersweet memories of old friends, and more. Some photos i rediscovered for the first time in years, and i was overwhelmed by how they put this journey called life into perspective. While these moments unfold and are revealed to us as we live on, they've already been planned out: You saw me before i was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. - Psalm 139:16 The Lord has counted all our days and unveils the experiences, moments, and events in our life in His perfect and good timing. While i've been inspired once again by a few of these photos from my past, I've been itching to write about one of my most favorite things: The view from airplane windows.

Seriously - aren't the views astounding?! It definitely puts into perspective how tiny we really are. As the skyscrapers and trees that once loomed above us become tiny and insignificant that far off the ground, don't you feel small? As the ocean spans as far as the eye can see, or the clouds, literally hanging in midair, float under you, how can your eyes not remain glued to the window, trying to take in as much of the vastness and glory that surrounds you? Our God is quite the artist.
(Top and Bottom) Tennessee - 2008
(First Photo: Australia - 2008)
Every time the airplane takes off and i watch my tiny, familiar world disappear, swallowed by the vastness, a feeling of great reassurance and awe overtakes me. My God is HUGE. My God is mighty - He created and constructed everything on this earth - planned every last detail, every star in the sky, every sunrise and sunset, every life, every heartbeat, the entire galaxy and galaxies beyond what we have even discovered. WOW! Instead of feelings of insignificance, as my tiny teeny weeny, incomparable life stands in relation to my God, I am overwhelmed thinking about God's love being greater than all of His creations. He is the center of the universe, and yet, because of his astounding love, He pursues us, cries out for us, and wants us to know Him. Our extraordinary God makes a home in our puny hearts, if we allow Him in. I am insignificant. And while my loss, my pain, my heartbreaks may seem too big to handle sometimes, they are nothing compared to my awesome God! They are never too big for Him to handle.
Boston - 2008
Sometimes all we need is a little perspective and a reminder of how big our Creator is. His greatness brings me comfort, His desire to know me personally brings me great joy.
Jamaica 2010
Florida 2009

It's the way You lead me, the way we walk by Your waters still
It's the way You hold me, the way You felt all that i feel.
Its the way that You touch me, the way You know when it's needed most.
It's the way You form Your words, on my heart while i rest in You.

Carry me away.

God of creation, take my breath away.
God of the heavens, in this very space.

And You enter suddenly, I am lost again
Inside the majesty, I am lost again.
When You come suddenly, I am lost again.
Inside the mystery, i am lost again.
-David Crowder Band

5 comments:

  1. Those are some amazing pictures. I'm sorry you had to learn the hard way about the importance of backing up your pictures on an external harddrive . I always try to remember to back mine often so I know they are safe. And using an external harddrive saves me a lot of room on my computer. They are a necessary device for anyone who is into digital photography.

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  2. hey Katy....put your verse text in your header at the bottom...it is interfering with the branches right now. just a suggestions

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  3. I love the visual perspective that these photos brought to mind. And you described them perfectly. Our God is big, the almighty, and the creator.

    It's on days like this when I am sooo crabby that I need reminders of how small I am. Yet, God has a heart for each one of us because he is so infinitely filled with holiness, love, and perfection. Thank goodness that He let his overflowing love and rightousness fall on us :)

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  4. Sollie Soles - It won't let me on blogger, since it's preset - maybe i'll play with it on photoshop and make a banner.

    Jod - AMEN.

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