For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ~St. Paul
My son and I flew into Zürich, a college graduation visit with my brother and his family, and the fulfillment of my lifelong dream to see the Swiss Alps.
Glory Obscured
We landed in an early morning downpour that lasted into the next day. Hoping for a late afternoon break in the weather, we travelled by funicular railroad to the highest point in Bern, with the promise of a 365 degree view of the surrounding area.
By the time we emerged at the top, the mists were closing in, swirling around us like smoke boiling up from hell. I could barely see my hand when I held it to my face.
We walked to the edge of the hill, where empty benches perched. I could just see Anja’s arm, pointed outward, as she declared emphatically, “There! There are the Alps.”
The spiritual metaphor was impossible to miss. We live with limits. Darkness and confusion overwhelm us and we believe, in our sorrow, there is nothing but what we can see.
We need someone to point beyond the mists to Truth that stands just outside of sight. We need another to describe the indescribable when all beauty and glory is obscured.
Glory Uncovered
It rained all that night, and we awoke to skies washed clear. We drove the 45 minutes to Lauterbrunnen, named the most beautiful valley in all of Europe for good reason. Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau lined up as in the photograph above–not a trace of mist to dim their snow-peaked splendor.
The thought occurred to me, “I was made to live here, in the embrace of these green slopes and icy pinnacles. What wouldn’t I be willing to sacrifice, to endure, if I knew at the end, this valley would be my home?”
I will someday find home. The glory that waits beyond this life-time, the “welcome into the heart of things,” as C. S Lewis describes it, will make Alpine splendor pale.
But now my vision is short-sighted, my dreams are too meager. So I fix my eyes on what I can’t see and wait for the mists to clear.
And you? What Truth is hiding behind the mists? What do you need to remember?
Image Credit
10 replies on “Glory That Far Outweighs Them All”
Janet your writing touches my heart deeper than I can express.
It encourages me to look harder, think deeper, & encourage more often.
Thank you.
You are welcome, Cretia, in so many ways!
I love this…to think that Lauterbrunnen will pale in comparison to heaven. I can imagine sacrificing so that sometime I could live in that valley… can I imagine the same with heaven? Or do I slog through this life with dim hopes that glory awaits?
Deb, that is what struck me as well. My hope are too anemic.
Loved the article! brought back fond memories of my time in Switzerland and the hikes and train rides in the Alps. this is how I imagine heaven will be.
Me too, Teresa. Thanks!
Janet,
What a great picture.
I once felt that God was saying to me that I was in “a fog of My making” – In that I understood that if I saw the full route ahead I might run ahead of Him or be fearful of some of the perils that would loom large. Your metaphor reminds me of that. So came to understand what the Psalmist meant when he wrote ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet’. That is what God wanted for me – that he would simply show me the next step so that I could walk each step with Him, rather than Him sending up a flare that would show the whole landscape and for me to run ahead with out Him.
That is good–“a fog of my making.” I will be pondering that today. Thank you, Martin.
Wow Janet! Beautiful picture and inspiring message. Some places take us beyond ourselves where our dreams are hidden, and will one day be revealed in awesome splendor…
Great to hear from you, Danie. Beautifully put!