A Donegal Reverie
It has taken hours to reach this place. You stand motionless and overawed by the display surrounding you. Words cannot describe what your eyes behold. A picture taken in that moment can never capture the raw power and grandeur of that place. The rocky cliffs are crashing down to a sea which roars and sprays salt water into the air. All around you are hills, laced with heather and a stream which cuts through the landscape and rushes down to the sea. While your eyes scan the beauty all around you, the power of the wind hits you and knocks you back a step.
That is when you realise: “I am so small and weak. How long could I survive in this place? I could never create this beautiful scene. The wind and the waves are relentless.” This reaction should drive you to a place of humility, awe and worship.
Psalm 104:1-3
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul.O Lord my God, thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain: 3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: Who maketh the clouds his chariot: Who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
The power and beauty of creation ought to drive us to worship and praise the Creator! The one true and living God is omnipotent and His creation provides us with a reminder of His handiwork. What is the appropriate response to such a display of God’s power? Humility. Awe. Praise.
Psalm 104:31-35
31 The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: The Lord shall rejoice in his works. 32 He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: He toucheth the hills, and they smoke. 33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. 35 Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, And let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord.
Too often I find myself distracted by commitments, tasks, entertainment, etc… my life is filled with noise and responsibilities. It is imperative that I take time to pause and be in awe of God. Before even getting up out of bed in the morning, I have begun to take a moment to pause and thank God for a new day, ask Him for help and wisdom, and worship Him. (Psalm 5:3)
Friend, may I encourage you to take time to unplug from the distractions around you. Pause and be still as you behold a beautiful location. As you soak in the scenery about you or the stars above you, take time to bow your heart before Almighty God in worship. Sing His praise, be glad in Him, find refreshment for your weary soul by running to Him.
“Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord."
Josh Pastors at Carrick Baptist Church in the west of Ireland. Josh grew up in a Christian home in Maryland, USA and placed his faith in Jesus Christ at the age of 10. He graduated with a Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural Studies from Maranatha Baptist Seminary in Wisconsin (2013). Josh and his wife Annie and their young son moved to Ireland in January 2016. They now have two more children and they continue to reach out as a family continue to reach out to their community of Carrick-on-Shannon.
