That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks, I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. Ephesians 1:15-23 MSG
One of my favorite New Yorker cartoons is a drawing of two men gazing up at a starry sky. The caption says, “Small? Why should I feel small? I’ve just been promoted to director.” That cartoon has stuck with me for decades. In just a few words, it reminds me that experiencing awe is utterly transformative to the point that worldly markers of achievement lose significance. It also reminds me that we can get so wrapped up in ourselves that we miss incredible, awe inspiring wonders hiding in plain sight.
Awe is a distinct emotion (different from joy or happiness} that overtakes us when we glimpse the infinite and majestic in such things as nature, music, and art. When we experience awe, our perspective shifts and we focus less on ourselves. This shift has profound benefits for individuals’ mental and physical health. Interestingly, experiencing awe also binds communities together. It makes people more generous and interested in the good of the whole group. Awe is an essential feature of Christian community.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he describes some of the characteristics of the immense glory of God. It’s as if he is standing at the edge of the ocean while nestled in the safety of a rock formation. He describes the peace and promise of our life in Christ in the here and now, and then turns to look up and out at the infinite wonder of the Lord, ruler of all throughout eternity. Pauls’ hope for the Ephesians is that they see Jesus and themselves rightly, with the “intelligence and discernment” that comes through experiencing awe:
I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do.., Ephesians 1:17-18
It’s interesting how Paul picks up the same theme in Romans, tying it to a healthy perspective of how we fit into a community. He compares a healthy community to the human body in which there are many different parts that each perform a unique and important function. The metaphor he uses helps us understand that a Christian community is held together in unity, not uniformity:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us…. Romans 12:3-6
Getting back to the New Yorker cartoon, the newly promoted executive is missing out on awe inspiring greatness that is both breathtaking and comforting. Experiencing awe when we meditate on God’s incredible nature and promises does not dwarf us or make us feel insignificant. Rather, it helps us find our place of belonging in the incredible and intricate body of Christ. This belonging is the bedrock of Christian community because in it, we can each be our best and most authentic selves. Emotions that divide community — competition, envy, pride, and control – cannot thrive in a community where members experience the awe that knowing Christ brings. Christians do not build community through effort and hard work. Rather, when we experience the awe inspiring presence of God and learn more about who He is, we can joyfully begin to participate in community together.
Application
Take a moment to listen to Yo-Yo Mah playing this beautiful arrangement. You might close your eyes and experience a moment of awe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXS3m-A2xlY
You can read more about awe from a scientific perspective in this paper published by the National Institute of Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10018061
by Sherry Sommer
Note. To access scripture links that don’t appear in the email version, read the differently formatted web version in your browser.
