Where There’s Blayze

September often signals a season of transition. After the relative calm and restfulness of summer, there’s a sudden return to routine. Work resumes, children go back to school, and in the Methodist Church, the new liturgical year begins. This abrupt shift from rest to activity can feel jarring. It propels many of us into the hurried reality of everyday life, where tasks, obligations, and commitments quickly pile up. I too have felt this shift, often finding myself immersed in a sea of things that “must” be done, each one vying for my attention. The result, unsurprisingly, is a sort of tunnel vision, where we become so focused on what lies directly in front of us that we lose sight of the bigger picture.

In recent weeks, I’ve been particularly struck by the story of the Transfiguration in Mark 9, which the lectionary for the Methodist church has drawn my attention to. This passage seems to speak directly to the experience of tunnel vision, especially in the context of the busyness of everyday life. In this passage, Jesus takes three of His disciples—Peter, James, and John—up Mount Hermon, a mountain towering nearly 9,000 feet high. It’s telling that only three disciples accompany Him. Such a climb requires commitment, not only physically, but spiritually— a dedication to follow Christ wherever He may lead.

At first glance, one might wonder why Jesus took them up such a high mountain. Why such an arduous journey? Upon reflection, the answer becomes clear: Jesus wanted to give them perspective. If you’ve ever stood atop a tall building or flown high in the sky, you’ll know the sensation of looking down and seeing how small everything appears. The issues and concerns that once felt all-consuming shrink in importance as you gain a broader view. This moment of perspective enables us to see the world differently, less ensnared by the pressures of the immediate.

This experience, it turns out, has a name: the “overview effect.” It’s often reported by astronauts who have looked down on Earth from space. Philosopher and ecologist Frank White, described how seeing Earth from such a distance often evokes a profound sense of awe and appreciation for its beauty. The vastness of the cosmos, juxtaposed with the fragility of our planet, causes one to experience an overwhelming gladness that eclipses concerns about the future. Instead of focusing on outcomes, this “overview effect” compels one to serve the beauty of creation with everything they have.

Astronaut Michael Collins once remarked that if world leaders could experience this effect, many political differences would melt away. The boundaries and disputes that seem so critical on the ground would dissolve when seen from space, where borders are invisible, and human divisions seem trivial. This speaks to the power of perspective—a shift that, when embraced, can transform how we understand ourselves and the world.

Returning to Mark 9, we find the disciples facing a moment of profound discouragement. Jesus had just predicted His suffering and death. Peter, in an attempt to resist this grim prophecy, rebukes Jesus, only to be called “Satan” and rebuked himself. It must have felt as though a dark cloud had descended over them. I wonder if Jesus’ invitation to ascend the mountain was a way to lift them above those dark clouds, to offer them a vision beyond their present concerns.

Indeed, once they reach the top, they experience something extraordinary. Jesus is transfigured before them, His clothes becoming dazzling white, and He is seen conversing with Moses and Elijah. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah, the Prophets—together, they embody the entirety of the Old Testament narrative. This moment offers the disciples a glimpse of the divine plan, a vision that connects the past, present, and future in a way that puts their immediate concerns in a new light. In this moment of clarity, I imagine the disciples’ fears and anxieties were overwhelmed by the majesty and glory of what they witnessed.

However, the real challenge for us as Christians is not simply to seek the mountaintop experience, to find the light, or to gain perspective. The greater challenge lies in taking that newfound light and bringing it back into the everyday world—a world filled with darkness, confusion, and conflict. This is precisely what Jesus does. After the Transfiguration, He descends from the mountain only to be greeted by arguments and a demon-possessed boy. The light He carried from the mountaintop was not meant to stay there; it was meant to penetrate the darkness of the world below. Jesus responds to this darkness by bringing His light into it, and in doing so, He dispels it.

Theologically, this moment encapsulates the Christian calling. We are not meant to dwell on the mountaintop, removed from the world’s troubles. Instead, like Jesus, we are called to bring the light we’ve encountered down into the valleys, where the darkness is most palpable. Christ’s transfiguration is a foretaste of His resurrection glory, but His work continues in the world, confronting the forces of sin, suffering, and despair.

So where are we in this narrative? Are we the disciples at the bottom of the mountain, caught in the arguments and darkness of everyday life? Or are we ascending the mountain, seeking the light and perspective of Jesus? As the days grow shorter and the demands of life grow more pressing, our calling is to seek Christ more deeply. In doing so, we gain the perspective necessary to see beyond our immediate concerns and to carry His light into the world around us.

Jesus, after all, promised that He is the “light of the world” and that whoever follows Him “will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The challenge is not in finding this light, for it is always with us. The challenge is in living by that light, in taking the perspective gained in moments of clarity and applying it to the messiness of daily life.

As we navigate the busyness of this season, let us not be consumed by the tasks before us. Let us take time to seek Christ, to ascend the mountain, gain perspective, and bring His light back down into the world. In doing so, we participate in His mission to transform the darkness with the radiance of His presence.

May God bless you as you seek His light and bring it into the world.