Holy, Holy, Holy
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3
The author of The Shack uses fractals to describe a garden tilted by Sarayu (the Holy Spirit). One can consider a fractal as an infinitely complex pattern found in nature that repeats at different scales. Fractals are unique in that they appear the same when viewed from any angle, making them fascinating and engaging. Therefore, the author of The Shack paints a picture that life can look messy from one perspective, but from a heavenly view, it resembles a fractal. Nevertheless, God’s intervention can easily change the pattern of this fractal.
An Image of Fractal Art
Oh, Mackenzie, if you only knew. It’s not the work, but the purpose that makes it special, And, “she (Sarayu) said, smiling at him, “It’s the only kind I do.”
(The Shack by William Paul Young)
When Isaiah viewed the grandeur and splendid of heaven after King Uzziah died, he saw himself and those around him in a new light. Sure, Isaiah felt hopeless before he encountered the holiness of God. Yet, he gained clarity after God purged his sin rather than punishing him.
Because sin distorts vision and limits our ability to hear, removing sin allows clarity while forming a clearer understanding of God’s purpose. So, sin creates a contorted fractal, which requires intervention that brings forth a renewed sense of purpose. Sin separates us from God, but we can sense our purpose when God removes sin. Then, we can live life fully, with a deeper understanding of who we are and why we are here. As a result, a different fractal will occur, one that will enable God’s glory to fill the earth.
On the other hand, some people might argue that sin makes us human. It is our ability to make choices - both good and bad - that separates us from other creatures. Our capacity for sin is what allows us to empathize with others. With this view, sin becomes a necessary part of the human experience. Yet, purging sin is necessary to grasp the ultimate heavenly experience while on Earth and produce the fractal that God intended. When sin ceases as the focal point of life, one can genuinely hear God-given purpose; then we can demonstrate the same as the seraphim in their worship by saying Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of host. If 2/3 of the seraphim’s wings worship God by covering their feet and eyes, and 1/3 of their wings are used as work in flying. Think about the why!
As believers, we often designate more time working instead of worshipping. I encourage you to spend more of your daily routine worshipping God like the seraphim in heaven, then your productivity will increase for the Lord. Remember, it is not the work that makes life but the purpose. So, live your God-given purpose every day.
