I know I need to have an ethical problem with flying because of global warming. I believe that we shouldn’t fly when we don’t need to, and we need to offset emissions.

Yet here I am going on holiday on a plane. I have a window seat, which doesn’t happen very often. I love looking out at the bright white dramatic cloud landscapes of mountains and precipices. You can imagine a whole world of characters and stories playing out in this pristine world.

Often the view out a window is just of non- descript clouds, a relentless, monotonous  grey. And then another few hundred miles on there is a break in the clouds and you can just catch a glimpse of the seahorses playing in the sea below. On this trip, I think somewhere over Greenland, I saw some amazingly beautifully swirly ice formations! They were so stunning in form, just perfect. And I had a immense sense of awe at the vastness and brilliance of creation. Nobody else might have witnessed it (apart from the others on the flight). But it was perfect.

It is strangely reassuring that God creates such amazing vistas- whether ice mountains, or Brazilian forests or coral reefs and ecosystems in the ocean, even when no one might ever witness their exquisite beauty. It is a reminder that things matter, even when they are not seen. Now and again we stumble into an unexpected place, and catch a glimpse of glory, and we realise that we stand in the presence of  God. No more words are required, for we just marvel.

In the book of Job chapter 38, God asks Job if he understands Him- if he has knowledge of the storehouses of snow, of the origin of lightning bolts and the constellations in the sky, which all point to the creativity and splendour of God. In response, Job humbles himself, and his faith is rekindled.    

Eternal Father, like Job, we are so privileged to glimpse eternal vistas of eternity, and to realise the staggering gorgeous nature of the universe that speaks of Your glory, and to recognise our own finite nature anew.                                         Lord Jesus- in You we see the very nature of God, for You speak the Words of eternal life, of love and strength and forgiveness and courage.                                                             May Your words encourage us never to give up, and for our wills to always be aligned with your will. Holy Spirit, thankyou for the reminder that what is unseen is eternal- whether the stars on an inky winter’s night, or acts of kindness and mercy. May we be reminded that nothing spiritual is wasted, even when it is unseen, and so may our lives also always bring glory to You.