Daily Worship

The Bauble Nebula…

Allan Vint December 22, 2020 0 2
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Image credit: Bubble Nebula, Allan Vint

Psalm 19: 1 (NIVUK)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Have you decorated a tree for Christmas? If so then, like me, you may have festooned it with lights and tinsel and added some final shine with baubles and a star to top it off. Isn’t it good to have colour and sparkle at this time of the year?

I have the chance on clear nights to look through a telescope and see above me sights which, until recent times, I never knew existed. An example of this would be this lovely colourful Bubble Nebula – I like to call it a ‘bauble’ because to me it looks like God has been putting beautiful decorations in the heavens.

In fact, if I look carefully into the dark sky, I discover it is far from dark but full of colour, energy, movement and of divine compositions hard to imagine.

Some time back I visited the grave of the famous astronomer, scientist, and mathematician Galileo. Many know that Galileo had some difficult times with the church leaders of his day because of his upward observations, his conclusion is captured in this wonderful quote from him:

“The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvellously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens.”

Galileo knew what the psalmist had long before announced: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

PRAYER:

Loving Lord God open my eyes to the marvels that daily surround me
Open my mind to contemplate the beauty and that which is signposted
Open my heart to feel and embrace the wonder
Open my lips to utter worship
Open my life to respond in pointing others to you
Amen.