Let's hear it for awe

Awe is the encounter of the human mind with creation

Awe is the encounter of the human soul with all that is Sacred

Awe is when the yearnings of our hearts find the Love

Woven into this planet

And in each other

 

It is easy to lose awe

as we slog through the ooze and slime and old decay (CS Lewis)

of this existence.

 

We look at the smug faces of the powerful

The hate filled faces of the resentful

The fearful faces of the oppressed

The pain filled faces of those who are ill

 

We look at the accelerating downward spiral of the plant

as the earth herself protests our abuse of her

as floods, and hurricanes, tornadoes and droughts afflict.

 

We hear the lies

We see the abuse of power

We live under the looming darkness of resentful authoritarianism

 

and we no longer feel wonder

our heads are bowed

our lips are silent

 

But we need awe

Awe is our connection with Sacred

Awe is the fuel of the soul

 

We need to feel our heart pound,

our soul soar

We need to feel tears of wonder spring to our eyes

 

Whether it be the joy we feel when the sun rises and sets

The sky on fire

Or the exhilaration we experience when our mind is blown at a concert

Or the amazement we experience when we hold a baby

 

We need awe

We need to seek it, nurture it, express it!

 

We need to walk through each day

Awake to the beauty

Awake to the splendor

Awake to the good

Awake to the Sacred

 

And the words need to be on our lips

Over and over and over again

 

“That’s awesome!”

 

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THE WORLD is charged with the grandeur of God.      

  It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;…

 

…Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—

Because the Holy Ghost over the bent   

World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

                                                   Gerard Manley Hopkins