Glory…Real Glory! by Nate Simons I love sunny, autumn days! The skies are less hazy and brighter than a few months earlier. The sun is lower in the sky and of a warmer hue than in the summer. It is as if an orange filter has been placed in front of the lens of the camera. One sees the landscape through this golden glow. When this light shines through the golden leaves of a shagbark hickory or refracts off the glistening hairs of the seeds of little bluestem, it is as if you can experience glory. I am re-minded…my mind turns toward the glory of the One who made all this autumnal beauty. Glory can mean beauty and brilliance and brightness. Glory can also mean weightiness and honor. Both of these meanings are represented in the scriptures. In the fall landscapes of lakes country, one can almost see the glory of God at times. Maybe you have experienced that moment of awe and wonder and majesty and beauty and have paused a moment to soak it all in and to be engulfed in the presence of our Maker.

Another important way to understand the glory of God is to understand the purpose of humans given by God. In the beginning, God created humans in his image and likeness. And he gifted them the responsibility to represent him and reign with him as royal priests. Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28; NRSVUE) The initial experiment to reign alongside our Father failed when we decide that we could rule without our Father’s help. As a result, everything fell apart and was broken. All relationships were damaged. But our Father never gave up on his good creation or on his idea to share rulership with humans. He sent the One who was truly human and truly God. He sent the King to begin to set things right….the One who reigned correctly. Saint Irenaeus, meditating on the relationship between human dignity and the kingship of God, wrote a sermonette that can be boiled to this phrase: “The glory of God is Man fully alive.” [Attributed to Saint Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons (now in Southern France) written ca. 185 AD. https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/man-fully-alive-is-the-glory-of-god-st-irenaeus/]. What does it mean to be fully alive? What does it mean to be fully human? What does it mean to reign with God? Jesus is the invisible image of the invisible God. He was sent to the earth to inaugurate his Father’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven…to bring God’s space to our space and to unify them again. He was sent to reveal to us what his Father is like. Jesus demonstrated who his Father was by taking on the role of a servant…to serve others instead of being served as was his natural prerogative as the King of Creation. He served and gave his life as a ransom for many. He served in ways that looked like newness of life. The blind could see. The lame walked. The demon-possessed were liberated from their bondage. The dead were raised to life. And then he gave himself to die so that we could be set free and be healed of our sin sickness. And then he was raised from the dead to be seated and enthroned at his Father’s right hand to inaugurate new creation… His service looked like a foretaste of what new creation will be when upon his return all things will be made right and new. Restoration! Reigning with God looks like Jesus. Reigning with God looks like serving like Jesus in working for the Kingdom. Reigning with God looks like doing works that bring about restoration here and now as we wait for the completion of that restoration when Jesus returns. Being fully human and being fully alive means focusing on and trusting in the Story that God is telling about the restoration and renewal of all things and then doing the work of substantial healing and restoration as a signpost of what will be. Being fully alive means reigning well by accepting the crown and glory that our Father has given us and then working alongside him to reign well on the earth. Being fully alive means acting like little children…sons and daughters of the One True King…who are curious and who will frequently ask him what it looks like to reign with wisdom. O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are humans that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8; NRSVUE) Oh, to experience that glory! We get to…here and now and then. With me, let’s see the glory all around us in creation this fall and then be reminded of our glory gifted to us. May we open that gift carefully and see that the contents look like Jesus. And then reign like him. And that is real glory!

View from the Crew by Madi Parker

The crew found this praying mantis in the process of making its ootheca to protect its eggs over the winter.

If you look closely you’ll see that Eva (right) and I (left) are covered in showy tick trefoil seeds here. It’s not a day in the field this time of year if you don’t come back covered in burrs!

We made sure this painted turtle got across the road safely.

Puffball mushrooms found at McClue Nature Preserve in Angola.

I just think that sassafras leaves are perfect for this time of year! Can you see the little ghostie shapes they make?

Beautiful frost on a chilly October morning.

Before, laying down straw as a winter seed cover.

After laying down straw as a winter seed cover.

The happy straw crew after laying down the winter seed cover! (Nate on left, Eva on right)

Northern Lights

Eva learning to boom spray on the ATVs.

A red-backed salamander

My camera could not accurately capture the beauty of this maple tree.

Oaks

Can you find the spring peeper?

Madi (me) surrounded by the fall colors at Badger Barrens Addition.

We had a friend join us for lunch while working at the McClue Nature Preserve. She was such a good help Eva couldn’t resist taking her home! (Eva on right, Winnie on left).

Upcoming Events

Thanksgiving Breakfast November 23rd 9:30 AM We’re doing things a little differently for our annual Thanksgiving Breakfast! This year, we’ll be hosting our breakfast at the Stroh Church of Christ (4540 County Rd 1100 W, Hudson, IN 46747). It will be a carry-in, as in years past, but this year, in addition to your dish to share, we’re asking that you bring your own reusable tableware. Please RSVP by November 20th.

Prairie Planting December 7th at 1PM Throughout the year, Nate has been providing updates and highlighting the progress at our Badger Barrens Addition. This will be the site of this year’s volunteer December prairie planting. We will use native prairie seed that has been gathered by the Blue Crew and volunteers during the year. Come join us, and see the work that has been done. No experience is necessary to participate, and we welcome newcomers!