Wonder and Awe
The children had all gathered round the story teller who held a small brown animal on her lap. It sat there quietly, filling her lap as she stroked its fur. His head was tucked slightly under her arm as if he were shy or unsure of his greeting by the children. As she spoke to the children, he tentatively looked out from under her arm.
The children settled, listening to the story she spun around them of a different world and place. Smaller ones came close and the animal on her lap began to move about and peek out from her arms more. As he became more as ease with the children, he sat up and looked about while she continued to gently stroke his mane.
Finally she introduced him to the children. He sat in the safety and comfort of her lap. Looking at the children pressing in around him, he sat up and ROARED.
One of the smallest children there, stood, his eyes as big a saucers and gasped. Pointing at the lion puppet he could only point and stare. Judah, the lion puppet, began to tell his story. The children ooh-ed and ah-ed as he took them with him on a trip of the imagination.
The little boy continued to stand, stare, and point. Looking to his grandma and then back to the puppet, he was speechless, excited, and amazed. Judah paused his story and called to the boy. "Would you like to stroke my mane?" he asked. The child in awe and wonder silently stepped forward and stoked the soft mane of the puppet. Judah reached with his paw and stoked the boy's cheek. A mutual love was born.
Too soon the story was over. The children were sent on their way. Judah went to his home. As he was leaving the tiny boy, turned and waved--still in wonder over the lion.
If only we could remember and hold on to the simple awe and wonder of a small child. As adults we become jaded. We take for granted the little things of life. We become "too cool for that" while a child is still open to the wonder of new discovery--of the world around them--of simple pleasures.
Our God has filled our world with tiny wonders and delights--soothing to all our senses and miracles to behold. If only we will allow ourselves the joy and delight of discovery, wonder, and awe.
So is God's word. It is filled with insights, lessons, comfort, and challenges--if only we will open ourselves to its wonder and delight. God's word is more than words written for a page. It is also the flight of a butterfly from flower to flower or pausing to sit on the finger of a quiet person. God's word is in the tender touch of a parent for a child or a hospice worker caring for a dying patient. God's word fills the world with love, with compassion, with grace--if only we will open ourselves to the wonder and awe of a loving, living God.
God of wonder, open our eyes, our minds, our hearts to the tenderness of your word in the world around us. Teach us to be the hands and arms of love that draws others to you. Hold us, always, in the security of your love so that we, like a little child, may live in wonder and awe. So be it. Amen.
Respond to this blog
Posting a comment requires free registration:
- If you already have an account, follow this link to login
- Otherwise, follow this link to register