Microscopic Things and the Meaning of Existence

After attending a science-focused school and being part of its leadership team for three years, I've had my share of thrilling experiences known as...dissections. Throughout my schooling career, I have cut up and observed no less than an earthworm, a frog, a fish, a shark, a squid, and a cat. Now, if you aren't that keen on hearing details about my cutting-up-dead-animal adventures, don't worry, because I'm not going to describe them that much.
But, I wanted to share a thought that hit me a few days ago, while working on a dissection. As part of my Anatomy class, I've had to work on a year-long cat dissection. After spending about half a year on the outside of the cat, observing muscles, we finally moved to the cat's insides. At first, this area was really grossing me out. Just the whole concept of working on a dead animal isn't pleasant, to be honest, and I was feeling rather queasy.
Then suddenly, it hit me. The little creature once had life in it, every organ that I was examining functioned perfectly. Once, it had lived, it had breathed, it had moved. I don't mean this in a sad way. In fact, I was suddenly filled with awe and wonder at God's handiwork. And it made me realize something. All of the processes that I was thinking about in that moment were happening within ME, and they are still happening in each and every one of us at every millisecond of our existence.
We are amazing creatures, designed by a Creator. Think about how much has to be perfect for us to even begin to operate.
One huge piece of evidence is our cellular processes. If even a minuscule thing is wrong with one of our cells, that could lead to disastrous results, such as cancer.
See, cells operate and make up tissues, which make up organs, which makes up systems, which make up everything that we can physically do as living creatures.
A few years back, I had the opportunity to go to the Creation Museum in Kentucky. While I was there, a biologist spoke to us and showed us a video called "The Inner Life of the Cell". I might just be weird, but this video was actually moving to me. Even though I am rather slow at understanding scientific concepts and I didn't know what the heck was going on in the video, it was still amazing. Later, I figured out that the process depicted in this video is actually what allows a white blood cell to sense its surroundings, so it can find and destroy "impostors" in our bodies. If it weren't for this process, working perfectly in each of our 4 to 9 billion white blood cells, our bodies wouldn't have any immune systems and we'd probably all just die off, at the drop of a hat. That's incredible isn't it? So, if you haven't happened to see this video, please go watch it now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJyUtbn0O5Y

What does all of this mean for us? Well, it resonates with Psalm 139:
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous- how well I know it."
Psalm 139:13-14 (NLT)

This passage is incredible. God knows the inter workings of every single CELL within our bodies. He is the one who sets them into motion every millisecond, ensuring that each little organelle is doing its job. But, Psalm 139 doesn't end there...
"How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!"
Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT)

So in other words, the Creator of the universe isn't just concerned about the mechanics of you; he also loves and cares about you as a person, with all of your thoughts and dreams and uniqueness.

Basking in this truth can change everything. We are on this earth for a reason. Every one of us. With this much biological wonder working together in each human being, we literally are walking miracles. Consequently, how could we do anything besides serving our Creator and Savior? He truly does know more about each of us than we know about ourselves. I mean, seriously, do you know exactly how each of your organelles in each of your individual cells (there are around 37 trillion cells in a human being) is doing right now? Well, He does. Our God is trustworthy.



A few sources:
http://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/building-blocks-life
http://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/white_blood_cell.htm

You're in Control- a poem

Tranquil scenery at the retreat center we stayed in

I was just on one of Georgia's beautiful barrier islands last week, to serve as a leader on a middle school retreat. God blessed us with an incredibly wonderful week, especially when He changed the weather forecast from thunderstorms to sunny skies within a day last Tuesday.

But, we had a few bumps in the road throughout the week. During one of those "downs", I wrote this poem and now, I want to share it. Ultimately, I think our success that week came from the fact that all of us on the leadership team was shown this same truth: God is in control and we just need to trust in Him, even when everything around us is chaos. 

You're in control.

The wind brushing through the trees.

You're in control.

The peaceful rippling of the sea.

You're in control.

The clouds parting for the sun.

You're in control.

The presence of Your spirit, O Holy One.

You're in control.

We know there's nothing we can do.

You're in control.

We cry out, bow our heads, to You.

You're in control.

The world is spinning out of our hands.

You're in control.

Your thoughts of us outnumber grains of sand.

You're in control.

Our hope, our rock, our power.

You're in control.

Our strength, our fortress, in every hour.

So we lean

We fall

We collapse

On You

You catch us.

You hold us.

You carry us too.