Skip to main content

Say Cheese

Despite the natural outcome of my nature to imagine itself to be more than what it really is, I enjoy looking at pictures of outer space. I say despite because it can only lead me to one conclusion. I'm small. But it doesn't matter. I still like to view pictures of outer space. I like to take pause during my day and look up in the sky. And although my telscope would like to see farther and more variety than the Indiana sky, I do enjoy seeing what I can see.

There is such beauty and vastness, it is nothing short of awe-inspiring. But then I ran across this article while cruising the information superhighway. “The Planck telescope was sent by Europe into space to take pictures of the entire universe to try to understand the origin of the universe and how stars are formed.” (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7872190/Planck-telescope-reveals-universe-image.html)

I didn't italicize anything on purpose. I want to be sure you are paying attention. They sent a telescope into space to take a picture of the ENTIRE UNIVERSE! Are you kidding me? Entire. Universe. The whole thing.

First of all, who even decides this is possible? I've been part of family photos where the guy taking the picture (usually the dumbest Uncle who somehow married in) can't seem to fit the whole family into the frame. Even Leonardo daVinci had to have all the apostles move to the same side of the table in order for them to fit in the picture of the Last Supper.

So how in the world does a telescope find its way outside of the universe in order to turn around, tell the universe to say 'cheese', and then snap a picture? I'm not saying I was the brightest philosophy major ever, but thinking abstractly isn't exactly a mystery to me. But stepping outside the known universe in order to capture it on film seems like one of those things our parents would have left for God.

Secondly, and perhaps less importantly, how in the world can the Europeans control a telescope from outside the universe and AT&T can only provide coverage for 97% of the United States? Like I said, perhaps this is of less importance, but I would just like to see if I can get a cell phone from Europe. Shouldn't every call be local?

Can you imagine the scientists working with this telescope? 'Don't click the button until Pluto passes by, or we'll get a fuzzy picture.'

All of this universe picture taking leaves me realizing that, ridiculous idea or not, I am infintely small. I can remember as a kid looking at a map of the United States I would enjoy finding my home town. This is so far beyond that that it does not even allow for comparison.

We're small. Specks of dust on a ball on a string in the lost area somewhat off-center of the total known universe. Accepting it is the only response we can use in order to move forward. Because only when we accept this truth and begin to look outside of ourselves will we be able to catch a glimpse of the One who made this universe.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Accountable

I recently officiated a wedding. The ceremony was simple, lovely, and ended with another couple professing to keep the covenant of marriage. But it all started with a clarification...from me. At our first premarital counseling session, as I have done with every couple I have agreed to marry, I clarified a couple of matters. First, I officiate Christian weddings, where both spouses-to-be are professing Christians. I firmly believe that marriage is difficult enough, without adding disagreements about God into the mix. Second, as a minister of Jesus Christ, I believe the pastor’s role in a wedding is to represent the blessing of God on that union. So we have several sessions of premarital counseling where we discuss married life. It’s not that I have this imaginary card in my head, with a picture of me on the front and my stats on the back. (You know, like a baseball card.) Ok, I do picture cards. Pastor cards! And being a competitive guy, I want my stats to look good. The number of coupl

Patience

I am more than halfway through the last year of dropping one of my children off at school. It's my eighth grade daughter, for anyone keeping track of my family.  See, next year she will be at the high school, and her brother will drive her. He says that it's not cool for seniors to drive their freshman sister to school, but I bet it's cooler than being dropped off by your mom in a minivan.  So rather than groan about this daily responsibility, I've been reminiscing about what the drop-off line used to look like, way back in elementary school. Once our children were about halfway through their elementary years, the drop-off line became a test of patience.  Do you know which group you do not want to get caught behind in the parent drop-off line at an elementary school? The kindergartners. These little ones are barely able to walk, but now we put them in the high-pressure situation of trying to unbuckle their seat-belt, grab their backpack (which might be as tall as they a

Jury Duty

I was recently summoned to jury duty. I know, groan. Except I didn't. I had never experienced it before and was curious to see what it was like.   When the day to report arrives, they separate you into groups, asking various questions to decide if you will be selected to serve. Do you know the accused? Do you have conflicts that would keep you from serving? Can you stay focused?  I wanted to answer well, if only because my kids kept wishing me luck the day before, telling me they hoped I made the team. After all, who wants to be rejected? It occurred to me that there are things you probably shouldn’t say right away if you’re wanting to serve on a jury. I know, I know, people don’t typically want to serve on a jury. But that list didn’t seem nearly as humorous to me. Here are the things you probably shouldn’t say if you want to be selected for jury. I hold myself in contempt. You can’t handle the truth. We find the defendant guilty. I believe the judge looks pretty in his robe. I’d