The Positive Energy of Christ

This past Tuesday morning at 6:33 a.m., NASA launched a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (CRS-35) on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. Sara and I happened to be in Orlando that morning. Not only were we there, but our hotel balcony was facing in the exact direction that provided an amazing viewing angle with absolutely no buildings obstructing our line of sight! All we had to do was roll out of bed and step out onto our own personal viewing area. It was spectacular!

We have lived in Florida since 2004, and I have witnessed my share of launches, but this was by far the most amazing! The puffy, multi-colored cloud around the rocket is called a noctilucent cloud. It is also commonly known as a jellyfish cloud, which is caused by sunlight illuminating the rapidly expanding exhaust gases and vapor from the rocket's upper stage in the high, thin layers of the atmosphere while the ground below is still in darkness. It is, essentially, the beauty caused by light illuminating the darkness caused by energy being expelled into the surrounding atmosphere.

As I sat on the balcony following the launch, reading Scripture and offering my morning devotions, God showed me that we are much like this rocket and jellyfish cloud. I thought about all the people out on their morning walks, taking the dog out in the backyard, or driving into work for an early shift, who looked up, saw this, and said, "Wow! Isn't that beautiful!" Maybe they were a little nervous at first if they didn't know what it was, but eventually they could not deny its awe-inspiring beauty.

Just like the jellyfish cloud is caused by energy reflecting off of darkness and causing beautiful light to be exposed, when we surprise the world with immense amounts of love, compassion, forgiveness, mercy, and inclusion, there is a surge of energy that reflects off the darkness and offers a beautiful light of hope that expands and overcomes the darkness. When we (the Church) remain focused on being the positive energy of Christ in this world, despite any darkness that surrounds us or is directed towards us, we create a space and a place where all people will say, "Wow! Isn't that beautiful!" as they see the true essence of God, who overcomes darkness with light.

We are definitely Easter People. Let us also commit to being Jellyfish People who bring God's beautiful light into this world.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)

Grace and Peace

-Pastor Madeline