Gravity
Ever see the movie “Gravity” where Sandra Bullock’s character gets untethered from her spacecraft? She is in grave danger, floating away into oblivion. I liked the movie. It was fiction, it did not really happen, but it is still anchored in scientific possibility. So, it is Science Fiction. Mostly, I enjoy watching sci-fi, but sometimes when the script passes over into religious concepts, not so much. For example, in one episode of “Star Trek: the Next Generation ‘’ there appears a black hole that is also a conduit for alternate realities which also cross the boundaries of time. Dozens of Enterprise starships appear with the same people crewing each of the vessels — that is to say, the very same people exist in different timelines and different “realities” at the very same time. My objection is the intellectual challenge of multiple universes and multiple timelines. Pure fiction. No science. Here’s the only timeline: We are born; we live; we die. The end of our existence is the only question remaining. We end up someplace, either back to chemical elements, or religiously speaking, our souls end up someplace… and I think people know deep down inside, we are not merely physical beings… But today, that isn’t really what I want to talk about.
It’s gravity. Gravity is that invisible force which holds everything together. It is what keeps everything on Earth from flying off into oblivion. Everything in the Universe is held together in some fashion or interacts with gravitational forces. Now, I don’t have to go on with this essay anymore except to say that everything, beyond the physical world, is affected by a different kind of gravity — as in what we gravitate to. It is still an invisible force — personal, social, spiritual, vocational, recreational, intellectual, avocational — all the dynamics of our lives are affected by this other gravity — what we center our lives on — that invisible force we know is there. We can become untethered, escaping this gravity, not unlike the movie as, thinking allegorically. However, that requires choice. Choice can propel us anywhere. Sometimes circumstances or calamity causes us to become untethered. Sometimes we mistakenly choose to become untethered from the gravity that holds our lives together as we seek another compelling force: freedom. Unfortunately, that perceived freedom becomes an untenable chain about our necks.
One last comment, if you will endure, it seems socially, intellectually, vocationally, and within all the dynamics of our lives when they have lost gravity. We are no longer centered. We are not safely tethered. We have nothing to gravitate to. Both as individuals and as civilizations, we are careening into the empty void.
My suggestion, of course, is for us to read the Bible and seek God’s presence in our lives across all of life’s dynamics. He has centered my life, and I have tethered myself to Jesus and His promises — which He has been and still is working out in my life. “…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6b, NIV) There is a beginning and an end to this movie, a climax and a denouement… and there is a safe landing.
What I mean to tell you is that when your life becomes untethered in any way by some unforeseen turn or some unexpected calamity, take my witness for a sure and well lit path to follow, because this is not a fiction: I have centered my life on Jesus, gravitate to Him, and tether myself to His words in the Bible, “God is [my] refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, [I] will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1–3, NIV)… and I am not the only one to find that this is true… For example:
“Your Wings” — Lyrics
“When ten thousand arrows take flight
Remind me that You are my armor
There’s always a place I can hide
When I am desperate for shelter
You’re my covering
I’m safe, I’m safe
Whatever comes at me
I’m safe, I’m safe
You got me under Your wings
Under Your wings
I’m under, I’m under Your wings
You got me
You cover me, You cover me
I’m under, I’m under Your wings
With every step that I take
You are before and behind me
In every fear that I face
I’m constantly finding
You’re my covering
I’m safe, I’m safe
Whatever comes at me
I’m safe, I’m safe
You got me under Your wings
Under Your wings
I’m under, I’m under Your wings
You got me
You cover me, You cover me
I’m under, I’m under Your wings
You got me under Your wings
Under Your wings
I’m under, I’m under Your wings
You got me
You cover me, You cover me
I’m under, I’m under Your wings
You’re my covering
I’m safe, I’m safe
Whatever comes at me
I’m safe, I’m safe
(I’m under, I’m under Your wings)”
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Paul Mabury / Lauren Daigle
Your Wings lyrics © Essential Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing LLC
