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Above the clouds



I had the privilege of flying above the clouds in January. I always find it stunningly beautiful. Especially seeing the sun rise or set over the rippled snowfield. And this time I was reading an article by Dane Ortlund - Jonathan Edwards, the Christian life and calm. And I got to this Edwards quote:
‘The Christian temper is to be meek and calm and not easily provoked, to be undisturbed by affronts and injuries. The Christian is above these things; he is out of the reach of them; he does as it were dwell above the clouds, out of the reach of winds and storms, and enjoys a perpetual serenity and tranquility.'

Edwards never saw what I was seeing out of the Airbus window. But in a sense he did. By faith. He knew what it was to be seated with Christ, above all rulers and authorities and suffering and sin, to set his heart and mind on things above, to consider himself dead and his life hidden with Christ in God, hidden in Christ seated at the right hand of the Father, hidden in Christ who is his life. And that produced in him a true calm; fearless and gentle, strong and gracious.
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