Awe

Today at Christ the Redeemer, (as at many churches) there was time set aside to lift up the names of those saints who have passed to the eternal life. Everything in the hour -- the scripture, the hymns, the prayers -- all   invite AWE.

We sing "Holy, Holy, Holy"... and we hear of the new creation, and how the streets of life in the Kingdom are lined with all those who have gone before us.  We get a glimpse of the God who is and was and is to come.



How can we wrap our heads around this?

I don't think we can.

Recently I was in a discussion about the importance of remembering the attitude of "awe" when we are worshipping. Awe is not something we can accomplish by thinking about it. In fact, the more we try to figure out what stimulates awe, the more we limit its depth and breadth.

Being in "awe" can be a tender time. We may be speechless...we may tear up...we may sigh or utter a soft "mmmmmmm" sound which isn't a moan or a groan (it is often the sound we hear in the sanctuary when particularly touching news of birth, death, illness is given). We are invited by God's awesomeness to simply dwell in the moment without trying to figure it out.

Awe may not last very long....but lingering with it, appreciating it for even a short time changes the way you see life and death and eternal life.

May you dwell in awe!