MARQUETTE, Michigan – As the sun was setting, I was walking along perhaps a half-mile of a beach. I was the only one there.
I looked out at Lake Superior, the greatest (and largest) of the Great Lakes.
That early August evening was a reminder of how big nature is and how small I am in comparison.
I thought of Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Roberta and I have been going to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula during the summer for more than 20 years. The reason is Lake Superior and the remoteness of the Upper Peninsula.
The Upper Peninsula is slightly smaller in land mass than the state of Virginia. You can put the states of Rhode Island, Delaware, Vermont and New Hampshire together and they’d be smaller than the Upper Peninsula.
But only 301,608 people live in the Upper Peninsula, according to the 2020 census. Lorain County near Cleveland has a population of 322,030. Summit County, which includes Akron, has a population of 538,370.
Getting away, getting God
What’s the point?
There are times when most of us feel the need to get away from people.
Or as Roberta recently said when we encountered a mob of tourists at a place called Tahquamenon Falls, “Too peoplely.”
We took a quick picture of the beautiful falls and headed to a remote trail along Lake Superior.
Trudging along a ridge overlooking Lake Superior, we sometimes stopped and just stared at the water.
I thought of Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know I am God.”
Close to home
The reason I’m writing about Lake Superior is because it truly is the greatest of the five Great Lakes. You can pour all of the water from lakes Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Erie together and still not have enough to fill Superior.
The only freshwater lakes larger than Superior are Lake Baikal in Siberia and Lake Tanganyika in Africa.
But while the Upper Peninsula is a magnificent place for those who love the Great Lakes, right near us is Lake Erie.
Several times each year, Roberta and I travel to different spots on Lake Erie exactly for that reason.
The sunsets.
It’s like God draws a different masterpiece each evening before the Almighty says “Goodnight.”
You can find places that aren’t “too peoplely.” We like the Vermilion/Huron area.
You can stand on the beaches early in the morning and think of Psalm 113:3: “From the rising of the sun until the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”
What is the message?
When I was much younger, I was a spiritual wanderer. I went to church much like it was brushing my teeth or using mouthwash – it was a way to avoid bad breath.
I hadn’t been hit with any major hard times where I could look back and think, “God brought me through that.”
Nonetheless, I knew there was a Grand Designer every time I saw a magnificent sunset or when simply staring at what seemed like the endless horizon of Lake Erie.
Psalm 8:1 reads: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.”
Psalm 8:3 reads: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place … ”
As I was writing this, I realized I wanted to hear from you. Is there a special place you feel God’s presence? Write me about it and explain why. Try to keep it short.
Send emails to terrypluto1234@gmail.com.
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