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Find yourself on this map
Nathan Harrison
August 5th, 2022
I was at Denver Seminary when Dr. Brad Strait first introduced me to the concept of microclimes.
A microclime in our physical world is a weather pattern or atmospheric zone that is different from the climate of its surroundings. You've experienced them, perhaps without realizing it:
Pagosa Hot Springs - there can be feet of snow, and you can sit in varying degrees of warmth there.
Glenwood Caverns - a popular spot to tour, it can be 100 degrees in summer, yet the caves will have you putting long sleeves on.
People rooting for non-Colorado sports teams while living in Colorado. No explanation necessary.
Our final in Dr. Strait's class took us into another microclime: the Denver Botanical Gardens.
If you've been to Denver Botanical Gardens, you know the place itself is incredible. But what captivated my classmates and I was its geographical placement in the middle of Downtown Denver. On two sides, drivers zip by at a speed that really gives no time to even notice the gardens. On another side, the sounds of a city park. The fourth side is walled off by high-rise buildings.
This was a different kind of final: we were to sit for a couple hours in the gardens, phone-less, note-less, discussion-less, present only to our surroundings.
And without saying a word, the lesson was given: our externals don't drive our internals.
There in the middle of this physical microclime, an object lesson about spiritual microclimes. And then came the most delightful surprise: these things are everywhere in Scripture. Consider Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
I could go on an on. Joseph in Egypt? Microclime.
The prophets? Microclime.
Paul in prison? Microclime.
The Spirit-filled disciples? Microclime.
And then there's you and me - the body of Christ. Microclime.
This past week took me back to Denver Seminary for some continuing development (hence the delayed email). Once again I was reminded of Dr. Strait's lesson about the Holy Spirit's microclime ways. With that in mind, may we be attentive to that formation on two fronts:
In Christ, we've gained a microclime way of living. We're now filled with faith, hope, love - and as my professor reminded us - peace that surpasses understanding. Much is swirling around us...not within us. Our climate goes wherever we go.
The church is a microclime body of people. It means that regardless of the influence of the world, life looks different in the church. Graces like forgiveness, love, and service characterize our dealing with people. When people enter, they're drawn in, and when we leave, we reach out.
Wherever today and the days ahead take you, be encouraged by Jesus' microclime prayer for all of his disciples:
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
Until next week,
Nathan