Maintaining Focus in Turbulent Times

(Two deer in my backyard - 7/22/20)

For fifty years, I have been following Jesus. From the beginning, I learned and loved to pray and meditate on Scripture, while being outside in God's creation.

Countless times I have stepped outside on a starry night, just to look up. Whenever I do this, I feel the greatness of God overwhelming my smallness.

Yes, we now live in turbulent times. But I have resolved to not lose my primary focus, which is to love and adore God forever. 

This is not an escape for me. To the contrary, it preserves me from escaping into the media frenzy. For me, it is the glorious, majestic presence of almighty God that keeps my mind clear and sane. I begin to see earth, through heaven.

Last night, around 11:30, I took my 16X50 binoculars outside and spent 20 minutes looking deep into space. These binoculars allow me to see many stars that are unseen by the eye alone.

I found myself thanking and praising God. 

Whenever I do this, my focus on God is reinforced. I cannot escape Psalm 8, which reads:

1 Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
    in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,    all that swim the paths of the seas.

Blessings to you all this day.