Resonance

Have you ever had deja vu? You know, that strange feeling that comes over you, where you feel like you've passed through that same moment in time, that same thought, once before? It's a really odd, other-worldly feeling.

Like deja vu, and equally intriguing, are moments I have experienced that I can only describe as "glimpses of God". Perhaps you have experienced these moments too.

Let me explain, first by making an analogy.

Remember physics class? Not a favorite topic for many folks, I realize -- so please bear with me for just a minute. Anyhow, one of the concepts we learned in physics was that of "resonance." Every object has a certain mass (think weight), and also a certain resonant frequency. The resonant frequency is the rate at which a particular object prefers to vibrate. A light object, like a leaf, prefers to vibrate at a different frequency than something heavier, like a bowling ball. If you wiggle an object (force it to vibrate) at its resonant frequency, it will vibrate wildly, almost out of control, compared to any other frequency of vibration you subject it to.

A good real-world example of this is the Tacoma Narrows bridge. On November 7, 1940, this suspension bridge was hit by exceptionally strong gusts of wind, which in turn caused a vibration in the bridge at the bridge's resonant frequency. At first the roadway on the bridge started waving like a ribbon in the wind, and eventually it shook so wildly it actually broke apart and fell into the river below. Check out this amazing actual video.

In our lives, there are certain times when something we've seen, heard, or experienced strikes a chord in our heart, and causes our emotions to resonate wildly out of control. Something that makes your heart well up and your tears flow, and you're not quite sure why.

Have you ever experienced these moments?

I believe these moments are common to all people, believers and non-believers alike. Why? Because God created all of us in his image, and those things which are part of His character naturally resonate in our hearts: things like love, honor, bravery, compassion, honesty, humor, loyalty, and beauty.

I also believe these experiences are given to us by God as a means to point us toward him. To a musician, a triumphant symphony approaches sonic perfection, and perhaps makes him wonder who wrote the "rules" that make music work, and why these sounds make him feel so good inside. To a nature lover, perfection is found staring up at the stars through a moonlit virgin forest with awe, and it might cause her to wonder how a such an incredible setting could be just a product of random chance.

When we read a story or see a movie that perfectly captures the concept of true love (Sense & Sensibility), or forgiveness (Les Miserables), or hope (Shawshank Redemption), or bravery (Saving Private Ryan), or wonder (The Velveteen Rabbit), or selflessness (Le Cadeau de Temps), we are intensely experiencing certain aspects of God's character. And those moments resonate in our hearts, for we are designed in his image.

In today's busy world, these moments are few and far between. But every so often, without warning, something comes along and makes me feel alive, full of wonder. It helps me catch a glimpse "through a glass, darkly"...

A glimpse of God.