I’ve been through the educational system. Not as far as my parents would have wanted, but I graduated high school at least. I took science and have read articles pertaining to geography and astronomy. I know how the solar system works and have always been fascinated by it.
And yet, in spite of my knowledge, I still look to the sky in the east and say, “The sun is coming up.” We all know it doesn’t. Really. Our brains know that it’s the steady revolution of the earth that brings that slow and often beautiful, increase of light that heralds a new day. I’m not the only one who keeps dabbling in this fallacy. Check out fishing charts or weather websites or hear the forecasters on television. Sunrise at this time, sunset at this time.
I know that I’m not going to change anyone’s language on this and I certainly won’t be referring to sunrise as eastward earth movement. Or EEM in this acronym crazy world.
But this kind of language does foster the idea that this world is the centre of the universe and, by extension, I am the centre of my world. That everything revolves around us.
The other day I watched a video that showed the size of the earth relative to the sun and the size of the sun relative to the larger stars in our galaxy. And from there to our galaxy itself until the sky was awash with galaxies. My mind was tired trying to absorb this reality. It couldn’t.
I gave up and just stood in awe of God’s majestic and vast creation.
All this gave a new meaning to God’s words when he comforts us with the words in Psalm 139, “Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Anywhere in this vast creation God is there.
This was something the heroine of my next book had to learn in hard and difficult ways. She had her own plans and her own idea and she lived by the credo, “I don’t bother God, He won’t bother me.” Then she and her husband and family were forced to move to a small town at the intersection of No and Where. Her husband’s community where people went to church and talked to God like He was actually right there and not somewhere up in the heavens above her, ignoring her. And she had to adjust.
This book is my first foray into self-publishing. The Only Best Place is a republishing of an older book that I did for Warner. I edited it again, changed some of the elements but kept the basic concept of the story the same. A woman out of her element, trying to adjust. Looking at sunrises from a different place in her life. Adjusting her point of view.
This book, and the one following it, All In One Place, will both be out November 13th. I hope you have a chance to read Leslie’s story and discover Holmes Crossing for yourself. And discover a new aspect about the vast richness of God’s love.
Carolyne Aarsen, originally a city girl, was transplanted to the country when she married her dear husband Richard. While raising four children, foster children, and various animals Carolyne’s résumé gained some unique entries. Growing a garden, sewing blue jeans, baking, pickling and preserving. She learned how to handle cows, drive tractors, snow machines, ride a horse, and train a colt. Somewhere in all this she learned to write. Her first novel sold in 1997 and since then has sold almost fifty novels to three different publishers. Her stories show a love of open spaces, the fellowship of her Christian community and the gift God has given us in Christ.
EEM! Ha, that doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as Sunrise! Your new series looks fantastic. Women’s fiction, I take it?
It just over whelms my mind as well when I study the stars and the many galaxy’s that exist ! It’s funny how we think the sun rises when it is actual the earth rotating. I really enjoyed your blog this morning Carolyne!
What a beautiful photo, Carolyne. Recently on Facebook, I posted almost an identical photo. The sky was spectacular that morning. One of my favorite things to do on weekend is to watch the sunrise. Since I commute to my day job before sunrise, it’s extra special.
Congratulations on your recent book. I love that you revisited and tweaked an oldie but goodie. It must be a special story to you.
I know. I don’t think scientists will be changing our language any time soon. And yes, it’s women’s fiction.
Thanks, Jenny! I’ve always loved studying the stars and every now and then try to wrap my mind around how vast this creation is. Never managed. Thanks for stopping by.
Hey, Jill. Thanks for your comment. I do love taking photos of the sunrise. Interesting that it takes clouds to make a beautiful one! And yes, it was a special story. Poured a lot into it and I wanted to give it a second chance. Here’s hoping a few more readers get to read Leslie’s story. Take care.
If you ask my 3-y-o granddaughter why the sky is blue, she’ll tell you “light rays refracting.” She runs it all together and has no clue what it means, but it makes her daddy proud.
That’s one smart granddaughter, Val! So cute when they try to say difficult words.
I especially liked this part of your post: ‘But this kind of language does foster the idea that this world is the centre of the universe and, by extension, I am the centre of my world. That everything revolves around us.’ That’s a lesson I must learn over and over again – when a crisis occurs, I somehow mistake myself as the center of the Universe. Somehow, things don’t even start to get better until I remember that I am not!
Loved the post and the book sounds wonderful – I’ll be watching for The Only Best Place to be published.
Thanks, Diane! I have to remind myself of the same thing. That’s why I wrote the post the way I did. We are such a small part of the universe and yet God has deigned to come to us. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Carolyne, great post and welcome to Inspy Romance :) The vastness of our world is always apparent to me when I travel across the Pacific to North America. Our world can feel big, but it’s tiny compared to the universe.
Hey, Narelle, thanks for the welcome! It’s been a lot of fun so far. And yes, when we’re driving the world seem so large but in perspective, it’s such a tiny dot in the cosmos I can’t believe God can even find us!
I’m always amazed by all the stars in the sky (when I can see them) & the Hubble pictures I’ve seen online of the galaxy. Makes me realize how small I am but yet the Creator of the Universe cares about ME!! How awesome is that?! And I LOVE that Psalm……because we can be in the deepest ocean or on the highest mountain…and He’s still with us & knows exactly where we are. How comforting of a thought :-)
Dear Trixie, thanks for stopping by and thanks for your comment. I also love looking up at the stars. Out here in the country, on a crisp winter day, it’s like a white band across the sky there’s so many of them. And to think that many of them are larger than our sun….it’s mind boggling. And yes, even more so that God knows where we are and cares where we are.
May be I missed a spot. I’m wondering if there is a place where I can pre-order the new books through Kobo so I can get them as soon as they are released? I hope that I can. ?