Lots of Secret Threads
It is an absolute pleasure to engage with a lot of Michigan during my week. My work as a civil engineer sends me to the tops of buildings, the undersides of bridges, and even the bottoms of lakes. Often, I sit at a desk surrounded by co-workers, but during the summer I spend a lot of time out somewhere in God’s creation, searching for storm water solutions or working to make the ideas my company imagined into realities. There are many days when psalms spring to mind, bidden by Michigan’s beautiful nature around me.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Psalm 104:24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
Psalm 8:3-6 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,
Although there are days when this job takes me somewhere beautiful, there is a better chance I will end up somewhere dirty, smelly, and/or dark. I have spent hours underwater in complete darkness beneath failing bridges (I got very tangled once, too! Ask me about it at church sometime). Those seemingly worse days of office drudgery or in a literal slimy pit have been turned to joy by the knowledge that God has called me to His work and by the pure excitement of working in God’s creation. Being able to participate in His world is an absolute joy, honor, and privilege. For me, this sometimes means getting impressively muddy or covered in poison ivy. I love it dearly.
C. S. Lewis, near the end of his book The Problem Of Pain states, “You may have noticed that the books you really love are bound together by a secret thread. You know very well what is the common quality that makes you love them, though you cannot put it into words: but most of your friends do not see it at all, and often wonder why, liking this, you should also like that.” Over the years I have tried to better understand my “secret thread.” My love of problem-solving and nature have been good hints. Lewis makes the argument later in the book that God instills this uniqueness in us so we might have something to help us specifically glorify God. I am yet learning what my secret thread is and will never be able to fit it into earthly words. For now, I can say my thread exists between the designing and planning of gifted humans and God’s good creation.
I have been reminded often of this "secret thread" as we spend this season listening to guest pastors speak on scripture “etched on their hearts.” I have been grateful for receiving scriptural teaching on topics close to the speaker’s heart. It is exciting to see the unique ways God calls us to participate with Him.
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Colossians 3:23 is probably the scripture etched dearest on my heart. My work and most of my hobbies are practical. I am blessed to easily relate the understanding of my secret thread to the things that I do. But whatever you do, the work is for the Lord! God has prepared works for you to do so you can use who you are to uniquely worship Him. Whatever you do, whatever your specific and wonderful gifts are, they are for the Lord. Someday, that ineffable secret thread that drives your passions will be realized in your unique relationship with our Creator.
Often at Christ Church I am moved by our united voices and purpose. The world has given many reasons to be divided, and we sometimes create our own. We all have our own busyness, stress, and distractions. However, when we sing or read the scripture together in church, I sometimes look out and imagine all the specific and beautiful secret threads that connect us to God, woven together to glorify God. This leaves me in awe of His power and love and filled with hope for His work that He can do through us.
Psalm 111:2-3 Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.