As someone who lives on an island, I am intimately familiar with the majesty and power of the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic can lull you with calm seas and gentle breezes, and then terrorize you with thunderous crashing waves and hurricane-force winds. The fruits of the sea sustain us when we’re hungry, the waters can cool us when we get hot, and the sound of the waves soothe us when we’re feeling stressed. We get life from the Atlantic, but if we let down our guard and become complacent while wading along the shoreline, sudden waves and undertow can quickly inflict mortal damage, reminding us that we must always respect the sea.
For all of that familiarity, it is remarkable to think that there are likely more than one billion people on this planet who have never seen an ocean with their own eyes. Something so spectacular and critical, that I get to see as often as I wish, is something completely foreign to so many who live in parts of the world that are far from the oceans or who never have either the means or opportunity to travel. It is sad that they won’t ever enjoy the splendor of the seas, but that doesn’t take away from beauty of the oceans. These great bodies of water would be just as majestic even if no one ever laid eyes on them.
The same can be said for awesome nature of night skies, with the vast array of celestial bodies that become visible when sources of natural and manmade light fade away. For as long as man has been able to gaze upwards, the stars have captured the imagination, aided in navigation, and fueled dreams. Yet thanks to light pollution, there are millions upon millions living in cities where the manmade light will blind them from the natural beauty that is always overhead, preventing them from ever experiencing the astronomical depths above them. The brilliance of the night sky is glorious, regardless of how many people are actually able to see it.
When characteristics such as beauty, brilliance or strength exist, their existence is neither contingent nor dependent upon how many people take note of those characteristics. This is equally applicable to people. An act of kindness is not diminished simply because millions of people didn’t know about it. The strength of a helping hand is not weakened if only the person who is helped can feel it. And the brilliant poetry of a well-crafted song is no less inspirational if there are those who didn’t hear it. It is a shame when others don’t get to enjoy these things, and it can bring joy when others finally get to experience them, but the truth is that these things are of great value regardless of how many people know about them.
Dear friends, if God gave you a song to write, then write it. If He gave you a picture to paint, then paint it. If He gave you someone to help, then bless them. It may be that no one appreciates what you have done immediately, and in some cases, it may be that you never hear words of praise or acclamation for what you have done. None of that detracts from the beauty and value of having done what God called you to do, so go and do it. If God is the only one who gets to enjoy what you have done, can you think of a better audience for your efforts?
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron