We just got home from a big game park called iMfolozi, which is about three or four hours away from here. We drove up with two guys from our church, looked for animals, looked for more animals, ate dinner, spent the night, looked for more animals, and came home again, and it was a very nice time. But that's not exactly what I want to talk about.
Last night the generator at the camp switched off around ten. This happens every night there unless you pay extra, so there was nothing to be done except get out the flashlights and kerosene lamps and fumble around to get into bed. As I was laying there in the darkness, thinking about our day, I realized how present God is in His creation. I mean, just that night we drove around looking for lions and leopards in a huge truck, hoping desperately to see these crazy beasts that could, technically, destroy us. How different is that from our realtionship with God? We spend our lives looking for Him, searching for Him, trying to find Him, and at the same time we are just dust compared to Him, easily crushable if that's what He wants. But because we serve a merciful, loving God, He wants us to find Him, and when we do He doesn't pounce and destroy - He welcomes us with open arms.
Our guide during the night drive told us to "open up our hearts" and we would then be more likely to see animals and not be disappointed. Of course, that "open up your heart, something something something, something something something, everlasting love!" popped into my head and stayed there for the rest of the night. Again, this seems to apply to our relationship with God - if we open up our hearts to Him, we will be able to experience His everlasting love. Shazam!