St Francis: Let's Talk Astronomy -- Sophia Colbert

  There is something majestic about the vast expansion of the sky. When I look at the beauty of the moon or the stars, I feel small. Even when I look out an airplane window, I realize how huge the world is compared to my tiny human self. St Francis' poem compares the radiance of the sun to the glory of God. Have you ever thought about the incredible power of the sun? It is over ninety-two million miles away, but it still blinds us if we look at it, even in an eclipse. It warms the entire planet and provides nutrients for plants and algae, the main bases of the food chain. Its radioactive wavelengths can damage skin, buildings, dirt, and vampires. It vaporizes water, melts ice, starts fires, and sets the circadian rhythm of a variety of animal species. The power of the sun is almost too great to comprehend. Even looking at its light reflecting off a full moon can be painful. Is it any wonder that ancient cultures thought it was a god? The sun isn't even the most powerful star in the galaxy. There are bigger, brighter stars out there that make the sun look like a dying flashlight. And yet all the stars combined could not measure to God's glory and power.
  Nature is meant to point out the glory of God, and so are we. This could be why St Francis describes the aspects of nature as our brother or sister. We share similar goals with nature, even though our methods will differ. St Francis said that the sun bears the most resemblance to God, but in truth it is humans who are the image bearers. Our job is to be more like the sun than the moon. True, we are supposed to reflect God's glory back to Him, but we are also the closest things in the world that resemble Him. As Christians, it is our calling to be the light of the world. Stop thinking of yourself as a moon. You are a sun because you are a son or daughter of God. God isn't out there in some distant dimension throwing His glory for us to reflect on our own. He is living and active in every saved soul, shining His glory from inside us like a star, if we humble ourselves enough for others to see. The next time you look at the stars, even a passing glance, ask yourself who makes the better sun, them or you?

P.S. I commented on Josh and Eliza's posts.