Unexpected Worship
By Anthony Casperson
4-1-17
This past week, I’ve been investing quite a bit of time in playing Mass Effect Andromeda. (Don’t worry, I had fortunately been given a vacation the week after its launch.)
This space opera’s story is about humanity, and its alien counterparts from the Milky Way, travelling far off into other galaxy (the eponymous Andromeda) in order to colonize these far-flung planets, known as “golden worlds.”
After over 600 years in cryostasis, the main character of the game, Ryder, wakes up. And the wake up call isn’t a pleasant one. Planets they thought were perfect have succumbed to a strange planet-destroying effect, called The Scourge. Most of the other ships sent with the human ark are nowhere to be found. The space station sent ahead of them, to be a main base of operation as the process begins, has not been completed.
And Ryder suddenly finds himself/herself the only Pathfinder whom people can look to for aid. Pathfinders of other species had been sent, but no others have arrived.
Sent off in a ship specifically designed for Pathfinders, you set out to find a home for your people. But you’re not alone. You have a crew to help you in this endeavor.
And in a conversation with one of the crew, I found an interesting piece of dialogue. The science officer looks out of the window, taking in the wondrous view, and speaks of the grand design of it all.
The beauty of the vastness of space makes her speak of her belief in an intelligent design of the universe. (By no means am I saying that she’s a follower of Jesus. She only speaks as a creationist.) The words spoken in this cutscene almost made me forget that I was playing a game about trying to find a place in the chaos of the universe.
Though I doubt it was the intention of the gamemakers, in that moment, I worshipped God. Reminded of the beauty of creation, I saw in my mind’s eye images of nebulae and solar systems, the intricacies of the subatomic, and the astounding nature of we human beings standing in the midst of this continuum. Beings formed by the Creator to share in the beauty of his creation.
In Genesis, where it speaks of God’s creating of the world, we see him speak of each element of his creation as “good.” One possible translation of that word is “beautiful.” After each brushstroke of God’s creation, he stood back and admired the beauty of what he had created. He stood in awe of the masterpiece he was fashioning.
And humanity, the height of his creation (called “very beautiful”), came into being to share it. We were made to live in relationship with the Artist who created it all. And though we might live in a dark and corrupted world, there is still that beauty to share.
Snapping back to the cutscene before me, characters looking stupidly at each other in silence, I left that moment of worship reminded of how amazing God is. He leads us into worship of him however, wherever, and whenever he desires.
Worship can be found in some of the most amazingly unexpected places. We just have to be open to God’s leading in worshipping him. It doesn’t have to be in a church. And it doesn’t have to be a song. I actually find those moments where unexpected worship happens some of the most intimate experiences with God.
Who knows when worship will sneak up on you. Be ready to worship. Even in a far-flung galaxy.
By Anthony Casperson
4-1-17
This past week, I’ve been investing quite a bit of time in playing Mass Effect Andromeda. (Don’t worry, I had fortunately been given a vacation the week after its launch.)
This space opera’s story is about humanity, and its alien counterparts from the Milky Way, travelling far off into other galaxy (the eponymous Andromeda) in order to colonize these far-flung planets, known as “golden worlds.”
After over 600 years in cryostasis, the main character of the game, Ryder, wakes up. And the wake up call isn’t a pleasant one. Planets they thought were perfect have succumbed to a strange planet-destroying effect, called The Scourge. Most of the other ships sent with the human ark are nowhere to be found. The space station sent ahead of them, to be a main base of operation as the process begins, has not been completed.
And Ryder suddenly finds himself/herself the only Pathfinder whom people can look to for aid. Pathfinders of other species had been sent, but no others have arrived.
Sent off in a ship specifically designed for Pathfinders, you set out to find a home for your people. But you’re not alone. You have a crew to help you in this endeavor.
And in a conversation with one of the crew, I found an interesting piece of dialogue. The science officer looks out of the window, taking in the wondrous view, and speaks of the grand design of it all.
The beauty of the vastness of space makes her speak of her belief in an intelligent design of the universe. (By no means am I saying that she’s a follower of Jesus. She only speaks as a creationist.) The words spoken in this cutscene almost made me forget that I was playing a game about trying to find a place in the chaos of the universe.
Though I doubt it was the intention of the gamemakers, in that moment, I worshipped God. Reminded of the beauty of creation, I saw in my mind’s eye images of nebulae and solar systems, the intricacies of the subatomic, and the astounding nature of we human beings standing in the midst of this continuum. Beings formed by the Creator to share in the beauty of his creation.
In Genesis, where it speaks of God’s creating of the world, we see him speak of each element of his creation as “good.” One possible translation of that word is “beautiful.” After each brushstroke of God’s creation, he stood back and admired the beauty of what he had created. He stood in awe of the masterpiece he was fashioning.
And humanity, the height of his creation (called “very beautiful”), came into being to share it. We were made to live in relationship with the Artist who created it all. And though we might live in a dark and corrupted world, there is still that beauty to share.
Snapping back to the cutscene before me, characters looking stupidly at each other in silence, I left that moment of worship reminded of how amazing God is. He leads us into worship of him however, wherever, and whenever he desires.
Worship can be found in some of the most amazingly unexpected places. We just have to be open to God’s leading in worshipping him. It doesn’t have to be in a church. And it doesn’t have to be a song. I actually find those moments where unexpected worship happens some of the most intimate experiences with God.
Who knows when worship will sneak up on you. Be ready to worship. Even in a far-flung galaxy.
