God of this City

Well, day 2 in NYC was exhausing! We have now walked the length of Manhattan from St. John the Divine Cathedral to Battery Park! Google maps tells me that is 7.7 miles...my feet tell me more!

I could blog about all sorts of landmarks and famous sites we saw yesterday. However, that would be nothing more than a tourist side show. You know what these things look like. So, I am taking a different approach.

When we got here I was overwhelmed by Times Square. It is so busy, so crowded, so loud and bright...it displays all that we are as a consumer driven society. Yesterday as we walked and went places, I found God in this city. Here's the story...

We started at St. Patrick's cathedral.

When we arrived, they were still having mass. We were cautious about going inside...mindful of being reverent of their worship. (I did take this photo without a flash and only took one). The choir was singing in a loft high behind us and the voices were filling the church. It was breathtaking. The beauty of the cathedral and the voices together honestly overtook me. I was moved to tears.

We continued on and saw many other sites before we came to Trinity Church.

It is a much smaller place, but still so beautiful. We walked through the gardens and cemetary beside the church. In these gardens stands a statue...

Honestly, what first caught my eye was the base figure on the front side...it is a carving of Adam and Eve with the serpent wrapped around them both. As I looked around on each side, I saw Abraham, Noah, David, Isaac, Ruth...I cannot remember all the Biblical lives represented...but there are 3 on each of the 4 sides. I was reflecting on the lives of these people...some were great men and women of God...most failed many times...none were without sin....except the one on top. In this statue, Jesus is at the top...his blood covering all! I was so thankful to God for this visual representation of His grace covering us.

We rounded the day out by visiting a service of Redeemer Presbyterian on the campus of Hunter College. We went to hear Tim Keller speak and were not disappointed. He is a wonderful preacher. It was neat to see so many worshipping there...a great end to an already amazing day.

See, many would say the mass we observed is just a ritual, but if you choose to see God, you will. Many will walk by the statue at Trinity church and see beauty without significance. Even these fantastic flowers...some see wonder, but only in the flowers and not in the One who created something so unique. God is everywhere. It is a personal choice to see Him when He reveals Himself. I am in awe of Him, and thankful He allowed me to see glimpses of Him in this city!