Skip to main content

Awe


 

The thunder resounded with a loud clap! Certainly, it came as an afternoon surprise.  The expected rain seemed less than what was forecasted, but with the thunder came a bucket of heavy raindrops splashing against my kitchen window.  I wanted to take it all in, the fresh aroma of falling rain and the beauty of water drops hitting the leaves of my nasturtium and petunia hanging baskets.  Unfortunately, the rain cloud quickly fled, running away into the eastern sky.  But then the sun made its way onto the scene, and I was drawn to a thick band of rainbow colors shining up at me.  The western sky was magnificently orange, completely bound up tight with that solo color scheme.  I went outside to catch it all before it would disappear.  Creation again was causing me to pause in awe and wonder. . .

Awe is that reverential wonder, that even includes fear and respect.  It is only a 3 letter word, but it takes bigger and grander words to define it.  Yet, you know when you come face to face with the very thing that evokes that response in you.  You are witness to something so much greater, more beautiful or fulfilling, that you are at a loss for words, and just have to stay silent in the moment.  Taking a picture of the afternoon rainbow, didn't capture the whole expansiveness of it as it arched across the afternoon sky.  Yet, I knew as I stood under the canopy above me, that I was in the sanctuary of God Himself.



The next morning, while shutting the outside gate. I was captured by a dainty, glistening chain hanging by itself on the very top bar.  Water droplets had formed "diamonds" on the delicate spider web.  How did that insect know how to create such art?  Who teaches the spider to weave? And how do the raindrops stick on such fragile threads?  Awe once again was my only emotion and thought, even with the lowliest aspects of nature.

And yet I wonder, why are these moments of breathlessness with beauty or palpating heart with something way beyond my comprehension so far and few between?  Has modern society clouded my vision to see God at work, each and every day?  Perhaps God is reminding me again, to look up, look around and take in His awesomeness.  Silently, quietly He is ever present . . .

Perhaps that is the true Christmas reminder, to truly be in awe of Jesus our Savior.  No doubt those shepherds were struck with awe and wonder, even fear and trembling when surprised by that angelic host in the sky.  So shaken by that sight, they had no choice but to go into the Bethlehem city and see the baby spoken of.  Their excitement and joy extended to all those awakened by their news.  Awe seems to be contagious, calling out to us to "come and see."

As I end 2023, I want to be more open and curious to what God is doing in my day.  I want to look for those moments that cause me to pause and reflect on His goodness, His compassion and grace.  I want to be in awe . . . 




 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

But . . .

  I had to pause for a moment, as I began reading the text this early morning.  But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly:  they became stubborn and would not listen to Thy commandments."  (Nehemiah 9:18).    How often do I find myself verbalizing "but? what about? what then? what if? really?" All the phrases that feed doubt and angst into my life are found in that one conjunction.  Memory stands as the faithful argument against it, but when faced with future days all seems easily forgotten.  This verse comes to a people who had returned to their homeland after being ravaged and exiled by foreign powers.  Nehemiah is reminding them of who they are, and especially of their one and only God who has forever been faithful to them despite  their faithlessness and wrongdoing.  He reminds them how God is a God of forgiveness, slow to anger, longsuffering, overflowing with lovingkindness, never forsaking them even when He was totally forgott...
Post a Comment
Read more

Summer Breeze

  Gypsy Rose immediately prances to the back door as she hears her name.  We are ready for our morning walk, which has started later than usual, since I have some of these summer days off.  But it is still early enough to catch the morning breeze.  Walking south, I am refreshed by feeling the gentle wind all around me, it's a cool wrap in contrast to the summer sun.  But it all seems to disappear as I turn the corner and head west, my summer breeze is gone.  I am at a loss for it even as I continue north and east.  It's only as I begin the southern sidewalks back home that I am met with the blissful breeze.  I realize that though I wasn't feeling it for most of my steps, it was there all along, I just had to turn the right direction to get relief . . .  Sometimes, that is how my relationship with God seems.  Yes, I know He is ever near and is with me, but I don't feel that fact.  Sometimes my prayers seem to be in a vacuum, and I'm ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Brief Moments of Grace

  "But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place,  that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a  little reviving in our bondage." (Ezra 9:8)   Summer welcomes me today with a cloudy cool morning and a subtle fresh breeze.  The day is probably teasing me with moderate temperatures before it will launch into more robust sunlight and heat.  The scorching temperatures have given an abundance of tomatoes, bush beans and yellow squash in my garden, while tormenting the kale, cilantro, spinach and herbs.  My refreshment is found swimming laps in the pool and teaching or rather reminding Gypsy Rose to stay in her lane while we swim together.  Days seem to run together, slip away too fast, as I often feel locked in a routine of sleep, work, cook, repeat. I know that I need to pause and reflect, because even in that daily ritual are God's brief moments of gr...
Post a Comment
Read more