I think Jesus connects to this in the Sermon on the Mount. He refers to the lilies being dressed more beautifully than Solomon in all of his glory and wealth. Stop, look, notice, examine, let your jaw drop. The hummingbirds have finally shown up to our feeder. I’m in awe that God would create such a fantastic little creature and care for us even more. I can’t help but stop every time I see one and stare in awe.
Julie Andrews strikes again! The theologian philosopher Julie Andrews sang the obvious about the Creator God with, “Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could.” And now Dr Beck reminds of her theology of “awe”, as she sings with all her heart, “The hills are alive with the sound of…. Muuuuu..sic!” We screw this up. Sorry, I screw this up as I attempt to bottle it and take it twice a day like the doctor’s orders. Better just to ‘Love God and love others. And then pay attention. Unfortunately, for myself, the paying attention part is where the ball usually gets dropped.
I've been thinking about this recently in regard to the Desert Fathers and Mothers. The institutions they left clung to them and saw their behaviours, codified and commodified them to the so-called Christian Life and called them "Christian Disciplines," and claimed that we gain grace through them one (of course) being church attendance.
To express true awe we must be willing to look beyond personal and corporate desire to realise that the stars or the mountains or as John Denver sings "the serenity of clear blue mountain lake", lack all conventional purpose and yet they exist like the grass; here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire; no less wondrous and full of goodness and glory.
In Psalm 145:5, David says, “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty… I will meditate.”
(NASB2020). I don’t think we ever meditate on God’s majesty. We don’t even use the words “majesty” or “majestic” in our conversations because we don’t understand or recognize it in our own experience (we don’t acknowledge kings, at least here in the USA). But this is close to what you’re discussing today: awe, wonder, transcendence, enchantment. I’ve heard “majestic” music — we know that when we hear it. I’ve seen “majestic” mountains. But to “meditate” on the glorious splendor of God’s majesty (to consider God’s awe-inspiring works)? You are correct. We don’t.
I think Jesus connects to this in the Sermon on the Mount. He refers to the lilies being dressed more beautifully than Solomon in all of his glory and wealth. Stop, look, notice, examine, let your jaw drop. The hummingbirds have finally shown up to our feeder. I’m in awe that God would create such a fantastic little creature and care for us even more. I can’t help but stop every time I see one and stare in awe.
“… reminds me of her theology…” 🤦♂️happens. every. single. time
Julie Andrews strikes again! The theologian philosopher Julie Andrews sang the obvious about the Creator God with, “Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could.” And now Dr Beck reminds of her theology of “awe”, as she sings with all her heart, “The hills are alive with the sound of…. Muuuuu..sic!” We screw this up. Sorry, I screw this up as I attempt to bottle it and take it twice a day like the doctor’s orders. Better just to ‘Love God and love others. And then pay attention. Unfortunately, for myself, the paying attention part is where the ball usually gets dropped.
I've been thinking about this recently in regard to the Desert Fathers and Mothers. The institutions they left clung to them and saw their behaviours, codified and commodified them to the so-called Christian Life and called them "Christian Disciplines," and claimed that we gain grace through them one (of course) being church attendance.
To express true awe we must be willing to look beyond personal and corporate desire to realise that the stars or the mountains or as John Denver sings "the serenity of clear blue mountain lake", lack all conventional purpose and yet they exist like the grass; here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire; no less wondrous and full of goodness and glory.
In Psalm 145:5, David says, “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty… I will meditate.”
(NASB2020). I don’t think we ever meditate on God’s majesty. We don’t even use the words “majesty” or “majestic” in our conversations because we don’t understand or recognize it in our own experience (we don’t acknowledge kings, at least here in the USA). But this is close to what you’re discussing today: awe, wonder, transcendence, enchantment. I’ve heard “majestic” music — we know that when we hear it. I’ve seen “majestic” mountains. But to “meditate” on the glorious splendor of God’s majesty (to consider God’s awe-inspiring works)? You are correct. We don’t.
Beautifully wryitten
errrr .. written