Touching the Face of God
- Richard Selke
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
April 30, 2025
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When I was growing up in Houston, we had only three major television stations. There was no cable, no streaming, and the 24-hour cycle of programming we have today just didn’t exist.
Every night, after the last program aired, each station would sign off until the next morning, leaving only a test pattern on the screen. But just before the test pattern came on, one station always played a short video.
It showed a fighter aircraft soaring through the clouds while the sonnet, “High Flight” written by John Magee, a fighter pilot during World War II, was read by William Conrad:
High Flight
John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
Pilot Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force
“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air …
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew –
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”
I love this poem. Its expression of joyful freedom and exhilaration always make me feel close to God. It reminds me of what the Bible tells us: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1, NIV.
In John Magee’s soaring flight through the clouds, I glimpse the wonder and majesty of our Creator, Who invites all of us to draw near to Him.
Today, in a world where the news never stops and programming is available around the clock, it’s easy to allow my heart to get riled up – right up until bedtime. That constant noise can steal the peace God offers.
But there’s a better way.
Instead of letting my mind be filled with outrage and anxiety, I can turn off the TV, open God’s Word, pray or simply sit quietly. I can receive peace from the Lord and release my anxiety to Him. Jesus promises us: “Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27, NIV.
Whenever anxiety creeps into my mind and heart, I sometimes return to the closing words of “High Flight“:
“And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”
I find comfort in knowing that through Jesus Christ, we ran reach out and touch the face of God – and more so, that God is reaching out to us. The Bible assures us: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16, NIV.
We all need to remember that God is near. He is constantly inviting us to come to Him – with our worries, our hopes, our questions and our hearts.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, put out your hand, and touch the face of God!
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for the beauty of Your creation and the gift of Your presence. When the world gets loud, help us to be still and rest in You. Lift our spirits above the noise and, as we reach for You, draw us close.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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