Chaplain

The anniversary of the landing on the Moon has been an interesting reminder of the human desire to understand, explore and push the limits. The awe of looking at the star-studded sky fosters a sense of wonder and mystery with a curiosity to explore. Poets have captured this awe in their poetry for generations like the Psalmist David:

‘When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,

what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?’ Psalm 8:3-4

A sense of wonder and realisation that there is more than just me in the universe is a valuable perspective in life. It grows gratitude, humility and a broader view in life, just as the pictures from the Moon showed us a perspective of the world that reminded us that we were one planet rather than a collection of countries.

At Redlands we want to foster this sort of perspective, one that reaches for mystery, that delights in complexity of our universe and seeks to look at the spiritual questions. Students are encouraged to ponder questions about who they are in the universe, the nature of God, the grandeur of creation and the nature of being human.

As the Psalmist looks at the sky, his sense of wonder has caused him to realise with gratitude, the awesome transcendent nature of God and yet he loves humanity. Later that same God humbled himself to become human and in love offered his life to restore humanity to a relationship with him. This is the mystery and joy of the gospel, that we can connect to the transcendent and find our true purpose and place in a vast universe.

May your life be full of this awe.

Blessings

Ms Bronwyn Lihou
Senior Campus Chaplain
blihou@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9830