Macrocosm and Microcosm

I first became acquainted with these two words in college--but not in a classroom. One day as I entered the Baptist Student Center on campus, an extremely large oil painting was hanging in the front room. It was covered in globby paint for the most part (so now you know I am an artistic illiterate), but stuck down toward one corner was a single rhinestone. The painting was titled Macrocosm and Microcosm. I doubt that the painting won any awards but it was an excellent visual explanation of the two words.

This past Sunday morning our pastor was speaking on the subject of doubt, with the principal scripture basis of Psalm 77 in which Asaph, King David’s main Worship Leader, was expressing his doubts and discouragement to God.

Isaiah 40:25-26 talks about God creating the stars in the heavens, even calling them by name. We know that our sun, an extremely important star in our universe, is 150 million kilometers from earth. If it were just a few thousand km further away, the earth would be ice-covered. If the sun was a few thousand km closer to earth, everything living would fry. It is not an accident nor is it a coincidence that the sun is exactly where it is. Our Creator God set it there, for our good.

Pastor went on to speak of Betelgeuse, the red star that is 600 light years away from earth, yet we can see it as a pin point of light. If it were put in the middle of our solar system, it would extend out to Jupiter’s orbit. It was placed there by our Creator God.

Then there is this galaxy which is 170,000 light years away from earth, which is about twice the size of our Milky Way and contains one trillion stars, 100 billion of which may be the size of our sun. And all of this unfathomable universe was placed there by our Creator God.  

These astronomical facts illustrated a spiritual macrocosm and microcosm to me as I listened to the sermon. Emotions of wonder and humility hit me as I realized the ramifications of what I was hearing.

The Creator of our sun, of the red start Betelgeuse, and the Spiral Galaxy is also the Creator that we can talk to and call Abba or Daddy. He is the Father Jesus spoke of in Matthew 10:30 who knows the number of hairs on our heads (or what used to be there) and He even knows when a sparrow falls.  

How difficult to wrap our minds around a Creator like that. And then to top it all off, He sent Jesus to planet earth because He loved us so much that He wanted us to be with Him forever (John 3:16). I’m so grateful I’m a microcosm in His macrocosm.

A Boy and His Horse

I actually figured out a way to link this story to Thanksgiving even though the event happened two weeks ago. We got to know Brent's family, even before we knew Brent. There's a good explanation for that statement because I drove Brent's mother to the hospital to deliver him on an icy January night in Wyoming. (His father was on a job out of state at the time.)

Our older son, Jeff, was a baby sitter for the family and as you can see by the picture , Brent learned early that he really liked to ride a horse. 


The years passed and Brent's family moved to Las Vegas, NV and we moved to Elko. Our families stayed in contact and when our younger son, Brian, became a photographer, he took some pictures of Brent and his horse.  Yes, by that time Brent had a real live horse and he made a pretty cute cowboy.

The time came when Brent discovered he liked a certain young lady even better than his horse. Of course, it helped that she liked horses too. These two horse lovers who also happened to love each other got married a couple weeks ago and we were invited to the wedding (so was Brian, the photographer:)

The ceremony was lovely even though these two horse lovers didn't get married ON their horses.

And that brings me full circle to one item of thanks for this Thanksgiving. It is so wonderful when friendships can continue despite the separation of years, of miles, and by life circumstances. Such a friendship is truly something for which to give thanks.

Tucson Travelers

We are back home after traveling to warmer places. The Family Reunion was a delight particularly because “the family” got acquainted with the newest member of the group, Ryder. His Grandma Jo had met him previously, but it was a first for the rest of us. He managed to charm everyone he looked at and he stayed awake long enough for us to really enjoy him. 

Many thanks to Todd and Laura for taking the time and trouble to travel 1500 miles with all the baby paraphernalia. They could have just said, “Oh, we can’t do that,” but we all so appreciate the effort it took to bring Ryder to Tucson.

Our reason for making Tucson our reunion headquarters is Aunt Dorothy—the only remaining aunt to the Diehl clan. We consider her a precious commodity and since her health keeps her from traveling to see us these days, we go see her (and her family).       

Those of you who have read my blog from last year’s reunion may remember the house located at the end of The Road to Hell. This year’s house came the closest to exactly what our group needs as we have experienced in the four years we have travelled to Tucson.

For starters it is only a mile from Aunt Dorothy’s place. It has enough sleeping space and adequate bathrooms (barely). The kitchen area fits the needs for the cooks and bakers in the family and there is plenty of room to sit and visit, play cards, and eat   

 

There’s even a swimming pool—this time of year complete with plenty of COOL water. The water temperature did get to 72 a couple of afternoons. If you haven’t tried that temperature, it’s pretty darn chilly, but once you take the heart-stopping plunge of total immersion, it’s not too bad.     

Nearly forgot another new “member” of the family—Wendy’s little dog, Bailey. The dogs  being part of the family, couldn’t be left at home. Dorothy and J’s dog, Duke came along for every visit and was quite gentlemanly to the smaller crowd (all the other dogs are lap dog size.

Now for a note of “senior humor”. I intended to bring a pair of black heels to wear on Sunday morning to church. I went to put them on—omigosh—two right shoes, one low-heeled. I knew I was somewhat blind, but what a jolt! (Or maybe that should read joke?)

Then there was Dean. He was driving from one location to another in Tucson and wondering about logistics for something. He called the other family car, ringing his sister Jo.  The only problem was, she was sitting right behind him—in OUR car. That’s a phone call that will be remembered for a long time!

We are fortunate in the fact that we all enjoy getting together—of course, politics stayed off-limits. So another time of pleasant memories was made. The warm weather added to our enjoyment as all but one of us returned to much chillier climates. Tucson in 2013!!!