I was reading something the other day about past (incorrect) and present (considered correct) methods of determining the age of Earth, and, for that matter, our solar system. The common theme that struck me in this is decay. My mind starts to get fuzzy (more than usual) when trying to follow a lot of this stuff, but what I get is that the currently accepted method of “radiometric dating” has in common a phenomenon in common with previous “failed” methods: decay. Basically, the age of ancient rocks can be determined by measuring their rate of decay.
Some of us might think, great, I’m just like ancient rocks: ageing and decaying. Life is winding down. It might also resonate with a certain view of the world: that socially, politically and economically, it is devolving into increasing disorder. And maybe even that the morale of your life is not much different: a mess and getting messier. Nothing every works out, lurching from one crisis to another. And the various crises of life are like compressed entropy, the process of decay and increasing disorder compressed into my lousy day.
Maybe that has something to do with why the disciples where scared out of their minds by the storm, even with Jesus with them in the boat (Mark 4:35-41). He didn’t seem even to care! That just adds insult to injury. And maybe that’s the real crisis with us in our storms, in our sense of things winding down and disintegrating: “God, don’t you even care? Are you, like, sleeping or something?”
God is creator, but he is not identified with nature or its processes. We may be united with one whose ways are increasing while the world, yes, may be decreasing. He is in the boat with us. He stills our storms, and gives us hope.