To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
William Blake – Auguries of Innocence
Last week, on the sandy shores of the island of Zanzibar my little brother, Joshua, caught the moon.
I can’t stop looking at the picture.
All the beauty and wonder and mystery of the vast unknown grasped between forefinger and thumb.
He was there from South Africa for a wedding. Twenty five miles off the Tanzanian coast, Zanzibar is a 60 mile strip of sand only 20 miles wide. Located in the Indian Ocean it’s 6° south of the equator.
From behind her lens Megan captured something that is diminished by my words.
But I can’t help but try and translate with 26 letters what her hundreds of pixels spelled out.
There is Truth so much bigger than me. Beyond me. But I reach for it regardless. On tippy toes I strain up against my limitations. When I glance over my shoulder, surprisingly, there it is.
Simple. Within fingers’ reach
Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. (Philipians 2: 5-7).
A baby grows inside a belly. It pushes new feet into space where lungs once breathed deep.
A promise is born into our midst through a woman.
She holds a universe of truth cradled in her hands.
No illusion. Utterly accessible.
We just have to reach for it.
What a gift.
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Shared with the Community over at Chatting at the Sky and Heavenly Homemakers who stop on Tuesdays to contemplate the extraordinary.
What an awesome picture, and despite your doubts, you worded it perfectly!
Thank you, friend. It made me wish I could step into that photograph and hug my brother and the moon in the same breath.
I. Love. This. I agree with LeAnna: I think you picked the perfect words to grasp this deep, simple truth.
I feel like we were tracking on the same thought wave. Everything about December seems steeped in the mystery of a baby that contained the immortal. I can’t seem to approach it from enough different angles. I always, always find something new.
Your words took my breath away. What a beautiful post celebrating our most amazing gift. The birth of “a promise”. thank you so much for your words.
Wow. Ditto what Emily said. Such beautiful words, such an inspiring reminder of God With Us.
What a terrific photo! You did great lady, don’t doubt yourself.
All I can say is incredible and AMEN!
Though the Truth is indeed so much bigger than us, we have to continue to reach for it nonetheless. Thank you for inspiring me to do that today.
Sometimes I am jealous of Mary. I think she didn’t have to be afraid that her Son wouldn’t survive her womb. But then I wonder what she felt as she watched Him at the Cross…
Beautiful post.
Yea, becoming a mother stirred all kinds of my own thought and wonderings about Mary. Especially since one of my boys was born just 2 days after Christmas. It’s powerful stuff.
i’ve been to zanzibar! it’s amazing–definitely one of the most incredible places on earth. thanks for the deep and lovely reminder of the majesty of God!
So beautiful… the photograph AND your words. What an amazing lot to take in so succinctly put. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks – I love the fact that a photograph taken half way around the world can bring meaning to a new community in another time zone. Love that.
I have a photo like this of me “holding” the rising golden sun in my cupped hand. i love it.
This was a totally unexpected gift today. Needed and held tightly. Thank you for sharing it as perfectly as could be….
Beautiful, thanks for sharing!
Good heavens. Absolutely wondrous. Your words are wonderful. The picture is amazing. And these words from me are just a poor attempt to say thank you.
Thanks for your generous words. I think it’s the season itself that works it’s beautiful magic on all of us. From heart to tippy toes.
what can i say that has not already been said?! oh to hold the moon! really a beautiful picture. and your words… oh, thank you.
What a stunning picture. And then your words…just breath-taking.
I know – isn’t the picture so gorgeous? My soon-to-be (I hope) sister in law took it. When you look at a photo like that, the words come easy it seems.
Amazing picture & what great thoughts on Christmas!
Thanks! This season works magic on me since Micah was born 2 days after Christmas
What a beautiful post! It is such a miracle and so wonderful to remember that miracle and the wonder and awe every year.
Love that picture of your brother!!!
Thanks! I love it too. Along with the reminder it sent me – an ocean away!