In February, I had the opportunity to take several Kanakuk couples to Iceland for a long Valentine’s Weekend. The trip was EPIC, and I am so thankful for the new friendships that formed while we traveled and adventured together! I’m sure I’ll be writing about that later in the spring.
But right now, I want to write about something God laid on my heart as we were flying from Chicago to Reykjavik.
It was an overnight flight, and I should have been sleeping because we were going to land in Iceland at 6:45 in the morning, and our adventure would begin as soon as we walked out of the airport (Blue Lagoon, snorkeling, an ice cave, snowmobiling, and so much more). But about an hour into the flight, I looked out of the window, and God had the Northern Lights on display, and it took my breath away. The plane’s cabin was dark, and most people were smart enough to be asleep, so I felt like the show was mine alone (I’m sure the pilots had the best view, and hopefully they were not sleeping).
I’ve seen the Northern Lights before, and every time, I am in awe of God’s creativity. I stand in breathless wonder at His glory.
This time, however, it was more than just awe and wonder. After watching them dance across the dark night sky, I grabbed my computer and wrote down these feelings:
Recently, our world has been filled with “noise” that has been cruel, lopsided, dishonest, and crazy. It is one thing for me to “escape” the noise of voices by being an ostrich and stepping back from social media and the internet, but I have still been hearing (and feeling) the rumbling of those voices. And I have still been able to see the effects of that noise on the faces of the people I love the most. But what a beautiful reminder tonight, up above the clouds and far away from the noise as I fly to Iceland!
I was reminded of this: when you get above the clouds and away from the lights, God’s beauty and majesty and creativity are on display for as far as the eye can see. The Northern Lights have been dancing among the stars and what a breathtaking reminder that was. When you get above the “clouds,” you just see God and His beauty and in that moment, nothing else matters. In that moment of awe, wonder, and breathlessness, I was reminded of how great and how wide God’s love is. I was reminded that, even in the noise of the cruel world, God hasn’t changed. He never fails and He is still on the throne.
I hope that I continue to remember my moment above the clouds, dancing in the sky amidst God’s beautiful Northern Lights. I hope, when the noise of the world is loud, I will remember to breathe in God’s love and be reminded that He is still in control, He is still dancing in the heavens, and He will work all things together for His good.
Awe. Wonder. Breathlessness.
God is good.
Jamie Jo Johnson
Alumni Engagement Director
