Bright Spot: Is your life awful, or 'awe-full'?
If one of my pastor friends had to answer the above question, he would say, “Our worship services are filled with ‘aww.’ Our people are complaining ‘aww ... are we singing THAT again? Aww … is he STILL preaching? Aww … when will they turn the thermostat down?’”
Not exactly the kind of “awe” most pastors are pursuing in worship.
Then there’s classic, dictionary-type definition of the awe that is be sought for so many reasons. Awe is that sense of discovery or awareness of something beautiful, majestic, or wonderful. There’s often a feeling of smallness and loss of identity in comparison to something bigger, beautiful and more powerful. Awe takes our breath away.
Obviously, I believe a sense of awe in worship is wonderful. But some might not be aware of how much being awed helps us experience health in every area – emotional, physical, spiritual, mental, and more.
After age 75, happiness drops and depression and anxieties increase. In a study of the folks who practiced “awe walking,” positive emotions generated led them to feel less anxiety and depression. They went out walking looking for awe. They smiled more with greater joy. Reflecting on the good stuff, the simple things we see on our awe-walks “changes enzymes in our body, and these changes prevent inflammatory disease.” Inflammation is responsible for many diseases and aggravates others. Get walking and get awed. It’s good for you!
Interestingly one of the most awe-inspiring events, surveys show, is observing outstanding character on display, such as in the genuine acts of heroism and selflessness displayed on 9/11.
Jesus said we must have “eyes to see” awesome events that we’ll miss if we’re too distracted by the everyday. Like those tourists totally underwhelmed by natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon (“Looks like a big hole.”) and the Painted Desert (“Too much red.”).
Jesus continually awed people. After he delivered a demon-possessed man, Mark’s Gospel says “Amazement gripped the audience …” (Mark 1:27)
After a paralyzed man grabbed his sleeping mat and walked out of the house when Jesus merely spoke a word of healing: “The stunned onlookers … all were amazed and praised God: ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before! (2:12)’”
Many would say God is awful to let all the terrible things happen that we witness worldwide every day. But is God or man behind those horrors? Jesus is the awe-full, full of awe, God, and worthy of following. Even if you think the worship services imperfect people design for him are awe-full in other ways.
Rick Sams is pastor emeritus at Alliance Friends Church.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Bright Spot: Is your life awful, or 'awe-full'?
