Many people today do little more than work, run through a very packed life and worry about the state of the world. We do not want to be under pressure. We want to enjoy life. We want to make good decisions but it is easy enough to move unconsciously in life. Two attitudes that could almost immediately help a person be calmer and make more conscious decisions are awe and reverence. These two experiences seem alike. But, in fact reverence comes from awe.
Annie Dillard in her award winning book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek made it brilliantly clear that knowing even the minimum about the biological world could astound us enough to have us in awe every day. As she lived on the edge of the creek for a year she noted the amazing and ingenious ways that all the animal species interacted with each other to provide for the survival of the whole system. Each species was also designed for maximum efficiency and beauty. Her insights really bowl you over.
Our bodies are themselves incredibly good at processing infomation, utilizing nutrients and repelling harmful invaders. Most of us can jump up at any time and move as we wish. We can swing a baseball bat with decent accuracy or sense when someone is sad. Wow.
The fantastic starry sky at night contains millions amd millions of galaxies at least 13.7 billion years old. All of it is held together and in some sense held apart by laws and physical entities that we do not fully understand. Yet, there is a predictability that we take solace from. Our moon circles us in regular phases. The earth moves through space at a constant speed and tilts in a predictable way. Yeah!
I am in awe of the way that a sea creature can make a sand dollar. I can hardly believe that a starfish can regrow a lost arm. And, some of the trees near us this fall have brighter than usual yellow, orange and red branches springing out from intense dark green centers. I sat in a parking lot enjoying them for a while last week. I recently burned a finger very badly and have found it fascinating how it has healed and is building up new tissue and skin. It's amazing.
Everytime I am really stuck in a relationship or unable to solve a problem, I am once again in awe of the way that God gives me a new and completely unforeseen solution.
All of this brings me literally to a feeling of reverence. I am so grateful for this fantastic world. I am so grateful for the creativity and persistence all around me. I bow to whatever power and genius has created it and sustains it. I don't think for a second that this is all just random coincidence. It is good even when challenging. It is holy as it evolves towards realization of the best that everything and everyone can be.
Awe is the flash of insight. Reverence is the abashed "Thank You."