Saying Yes to Awe
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
- Luke 1:57-66
As we talked about Sunday, awe is an experience that involves our whole selves, body, mind and spirit, inviting us into mystery, joy, and a sense of sacred connection with God and others. We create possibilities and openness to awe with practices like paying attention to the beauty all around us (nature, “moral beauty”…) and showing up with others for shared experiences (at concerts, political protests, hikes, community service events).
As you spend a few minutes reflecting on the artwork and poetry below, consider - where might God be inviting you into awe today or in the coming weeks? What would help you say yes?
What Wonder Turns Into
By Lisle Gwynn Garrity @sanctifiedart - Inspired by Luke 1:57-66 - Acrylic painting on canvas with digital drawing
“In this image, I wanted to capture the moment Zechariah’s voice returns to him. I decided to depict only half of Zechariah’s face; this miracle is not really about him, but about what happens through him. When he confirms John’s name, he sheds his distrust of the angel’s impossible news. His skepticism and weariness subside as he awakens to the joy in his midst. He allows himself to be amazed.” - artist Lisle Gwynn Garrity
Awe
The birds could spend their lives
on telephone wires,
feet under them,
sure and steady.
Or they could open their wings,
leave the ground,
and let the wind carry them home.
I want to be like the birds.
I want an open heart,
open arms,
open eyes.
Give me a sky view,
for I do not want to miss a thing.
-Rev. Sarah Speed @sanctifiedart