Awe and Wonder

In preparation for our observation of the Season of Creation I am inviting us to take time each day to recover a sense of wonder and awe of the earth as a holy place. As people of faith we know that the climate crisis at its root is a spiritual crisis.  As many have exhorted - for an ecological conversion to take place we need to recover our sense of awe, wonder and beauty.  When we lose the sense of the mystery that underlies creation, we reduce the earth to a thing that we can exploit for our own ends. 

Theologian and  Philosopher Rabbi Heschel writes: 

“Awe is an intuition for the dignity of all things,
a realization that things not only are what they are
but also stand, however remotely,
for something supreme.

Awe is a sense for the transcendence, 

for the reference everywhere to mystery beyond all things.  

It enables us to perceive in the world intimations of the divine…”

It is this sense of the divine dignity of all things that helps us recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature. And if we are all part of one another we will not want to harm that which is a part of us. 

I know many of you have a strong sense of connection to creation - whether it is through hiking, gardening, bee keeping, or star gazing. I am inviting you to share your experiences of awe or wonder with the rest of community at Gloria Dei. Send in your photographs or a story of a moment of wonder you experienced on walk or a hike or even while sitting on your balcony or deck.   I will compile them and share them during our Thanksgiving Sunday worship.

I’ll start: I spent an afternoon in July at the beach in Point Roberts. All afternoon, I saw small flocks of cormorants flying close to the water just off the beach in both directions. I marvelled at their flight and wondered where were they flying to and from?

Click on the link to view my video clip.