With all the skills of computer graphics we have become blasé about imagery. And yet 'fractals' and holograms remain a source of wonder. The images from the Hubble space Telescope are utterly amazing; and what is more we can understand the mechanics behind them. But the "Glory of the lord" remains quite beyond our imagining. For those ancient Hebrews the experience was quite terrifying, but for us, now that we have seen Christ and experienced something of the Holy Spirit, whilst it is always overwhelming yet it is also inspiring.

The nations are still in turmoil
We continue to hatch our "futile plots".
Our national conglomerations
Sometimes borrow the word of the Lord
For their grandiose machinations.
Sometimes we reject the Word of the Lord
To 'invent' a 'new' scheme of things.

The turmoil of the nations comes
From their failure to apply that
Word of the Lord. This alone is the
Sure guide to making right relationships
Among our disparate human family.
For thus, alone, can we make "the
Earth ... our lasting possession"!

For all that the Lord our God
Os "enthroned and exalted above
All the peoples", yet that same
Lord is interested in the
Lowliest of "all the peoples".

The message of the prophets
Still stands "let justice flow
Like water and righteousness
As a never failing stream"
And this for "all the peoples".

We are not a righteous people
And justice has become far too
Expensive for "all the peoples"
And yet our God has forgiven
Us our wrong doing in Christ.

Thus we must "Exalt the
Lord our God" and "bow down
For holy is the Lord our God",
We can offer ourselves to him
In righteousness through Jesus our Saviour.

In this, very materialistic, age the 'eye-witness' has come into some disrepute. Greater credence is placed upon physical or 'scientific' evidence that upon personal testimony. And yet our cultural heritage is, essentially, one of personal experiences and skills being passed on. Whilst this is widely accepted even 'glorified' in the arts and to a limited extent in the sciences, in the realm of religion these things seem to count for less.
This may be due to the demise of the Christian religion, certainly in Western Europe and interestingly among 'media persons'. There is also an extraordinarily high standard of evidential requirement imposed on religious matters, which does not seem to apply to the arts and philosophies.
Nevertheless, our inheritance does consist of an unbroken sequence of personal experiences verified through the trials and tribulations of life. Above all it is the personal experience of Christ through the Holy Spirit, which has enabled our civilisation to become and to develop. This has been immeasurably strengthened by our inheritance of our scriptures.

The human imagination is marvellous,
It seems to have no limitations at all.
Yet for imagination to work it must
Have 'images' on which to work.

In this event we have a number
Of fascinating 'images' to work on.
The 'mountain', perhaps "the Mountain
Of the Lord"; closeness to God?

The "bright cloud" surely not
A 'whiteout' but a brilliant
Expression of the glorious
Nature of the Living Lord God!

Then "a voice" surely not a
Divine 'public address' but an
Intimate message to the minds
Of those friends of Jesus.

Finally the transfiguration;
This though momentary
Conveys a wonderful impression
Of the nature of the Risen Lord.