Essence of Awe!
“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders where morning dawns and where evening fades you call forth songs of joy.” Psalm 65:8
Isn’t summer “awe-mazing”? Colorado provides numerous opportunities to experience God’s creation in spectacular ways, and the awe and joy they inspire can point us back to Him. Dictionary.com defines “awe” as a feeling of “reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.” If you’ve ever stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon, felt the mist of a gigantic waterfall, watched the alpine glow, tasted fresh picked blueberries, or listened to a wolf howl you may have experienced awe at God’s handiwork. The essence of awe is simply recognizing and reveling in the glory that belongs to God.
My family and I camped at the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve this summer. This is a special and unique place. On one adventure, we took a 4×4 road to the north side of the dunes where the mountains and the dunes collide. We drove over sand hills and crossed deep creeks before parking at the trailhead. There we hiked through massive ponderosa pines, fields of colorful wildflowers and cactus, and traversed a river that led us to a mountain of sand that connected the Sand Dunes to the Sangre De Cristo Mountains. There we sat on a cornice of sand staring south over the entire dunes with 14,000-foot peaks in the background. My kids enjoyed rolling, jumping, running, and cartwheeling down the steep sand slopes. Sitting back taking in this scene brought me joy and created a sacred memory that I will cherish for a long time. Thanks, God!
At Front Range Christian School we create opportunities for students to experience awe toward God—to create a deeper affection for His goodness and glory. My hope is that your family has spent some time this summer gazing upon the beauty of the Lord to recapture, refocus, and redirect your hearts. A state of awe can remind us that our God is good and can help stir our passion for Him. If you have not yet experienced wonder or amazement at God’s creation this summer, there is still time before the excitement and busyness of a new year begins. I challenge you to get out and be blown away by all the things God has created—let it draw your attention back to Him.
