The Heavens Above and Earth Below

On Friday I went out to the Salt Flats to look at the stars. This is particularly good out there as these is no light for miles in any direction therefore there is very little light pollution, and you can see so much!

While I was out there, I was borrowing my best friend’s phone (as it has a much better camera than mine) and I took some pretty cool long exposures pictures. As I understand the way I set the camera up greatly increased the light sensitivity and then set the exposure time to 30 second which allowed the most light from the stars to come in.

After a few cool pictures I got an idea. If I could stand still long enough, I could put myself in the picture of the milky way galaxy. This was a cool idea to me, but I realized it would involve me standing in kind of a dorky position for 40 or so seconds. So I waited until everyone was looking at something in the opposite direction and set up the picture and hit the 10 second timer. Once I was standing in the spot that I wanted I realized my mistake. I had no way to tell how much longer there was on the exposure and if I moved too early, I would ruin it.

40 second is a very long time when you have no idea how long 40 seconds is, and you cannot move. My mind began to ponder on the things around me. I was out at the salt flats, which in my opinion is some of the prettiest landscape in all of Utah. The flat white salt running up to the base of large dark mountains on one side and running as flat and as flat as the eye can see on the other side, I find extremely beautiful and quite moving. Add on top of that the awesome sun set we had been privileged to see some few hours before, the sky streaked with the colors of fire and the mountains silhouette against it with the salt flats turning shades of blue and purple in the shadows that are cast, simply breath taking.

Unsure if the 40 seconds was over but quite content with the content that my mind was dwelling upon, I remained motionless as best I could for some time longer. As I did so I ponder the goodness of getting to spend time with my best friend and the sizable group of lady folk that seem to flock to him. I ponder the glory that is interpersonal communication and how much I enjoy sharing my thoughts and musings and listening to the thoughts of others.

Lastly, I thought of the stars whose light I was attempting to capture and the grandeur of all of creation. In the previous weeks I had read the Pearl of Great Price and as anyone who has read Moses and Abraham will know there is much talk of stars and worlds beyond number, truly showing the majesty of the God who created them all.

“Worlds without number have I [The Lord] created; and I also created them for my own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten” Moses 1:33

“… For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.” Moses 1:35

“And I saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of God; and there were many great ones which were near unto it;” Abraham 3:2

“And He [The Lord] said unto me: My son, my son (and his hand was stretched out), behold I will show you all these. And he put his hand upon mine eyes, and I saw those things which his hands had made; and they multiplied before mine eyes, and I could not see the end thereof.” Abraham 3:12

Having pondered on these things I determined to pray to the Lord after this picture (as I had my hat on and wanted to take it off before the prayer). I learned a while ago from Fr Mike Schmitz and Idea of praying more by following a 3-step pattern: 1^st Notice, 2^nd Note it, 3^rd Praise the Lord for it.

At this point I figured either the 40 seconds was done, or I would ruin it and obtain help the next time. I walked up to the camera on the tripod and began my prayer of praise the image I had taken loaded.

(Look I know it is a dorky pose, but it was slightly windy on the salt flats and salt wind was blowing so this way My eyes and mouth were protected and I could hold that pose for an extended period of time.)

As this picture loaded my breath caught and for a moment that seemed to last an eternity the prayer that I was in the middle of seemed to reverse its flow, no more was I talking to the Lord but He to me. the Words of Moses Chapter 1 came rolling through my mind.

“The Heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine. And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words. For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” 37-39

It was then pressed upon my mind that of all the things in all of creation, of all of the countless stars behind me in that picture, the God who made it all and to whom all things are numbered has declared that we and our salvation are His work and His glory. We, mankind, His children are His glory beyond all the stars of the universe.

It makes be to feel to sing the songs of redeeming love.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!

Join the great throng,

Psaltery, organ and song,

Sounding in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee.

Surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee.

Ponder anew

What the Almighty can do,

Who with his love doth befriend thee.

When next you feel small, sad, or afraid look up to the stars and remember

Of all His wonders, You are His work and His Glory.

As always, I’m praying for thee, please pray for me.

In Christ name amen.