Not Awful but Awe-full
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! ”
The Biblical word for “awe” is one of the most profound words in all Scripture. The ancient meaning of Awe is “to perform the actions appropriate to the gods.” I’ve been blessed throughout my life with moments of Awe. Sitting at a campsite in the Boundary Waters at night, looking up at the Northern Lights, is a moment of Awe because only God could create something so beautiful. Yet, nature isn’t the place we experience Awe.
God uses humans to create Awe. In an On Parenting magazine article entitled, “Awe might be our most undervalued emotion. Here’s how to help children find it,” Deborah Farmer Kris points out that Awe is found when children “feel as if they’re a part of something larger than themselves.” Finding something larger than ourselves is the recipe for creating Awe in adults. The feeling of Awe is the reason for the creation and the sustaining power of the Church.
God calls us to live our faith in Church because it is the best way to honor God and experience divine Awe. There is no more significant way to “feel as if [we] are a part of something larger than [ourselves]” than to be part of a larger community of faith. I’ve felt Awe in singing in the Church Choir, working next to church friends on a mission project, marching together affirming a divine justice issue, or sitting and discussing a new insight into a Biblical text with others. Awe is found with God and most often in the community, which is the very definition of the Church.
Today, think about the moments of Awe you experienced in your life. Yet, do not let Awe simply remain part of your past, but invite the Holy Spirit to provide new opportunities for Awe in the coming year. You can find it at particular moments in nature, but you can also find it regularly in God’s house, your church. Recommit yourself to being part of the community of faith so you can give and experience God’s Awe. Awe brings joy and meaning to life now and for all eternity.
