Submitted by Andy McIlvain.
My grandson Damon is 6 years old. Like most children his age, he is exuberant about life. He gets excited, I mean really excited about what interests him or what is new and different. For Damon there are degrees of excitement. He uses different words, like “Wow” or “Easy Peasy” to mark the degrees. However, the Damon seal of approval is “AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” [Shouted loudly!]
Damon and his older brother Dillon have for years occasionally spent the night with Gramma and Grampa Mac. We cater to them; we spoil them. We provide experiences and education outside of their routine. We have a folding stool in our kitchen that Damon uses to get up by Gramma to help – with his brother Dillion – make pancakes for breakfast. Damon is so enamored by the stool that he has named it the AWESOME stool!
Both Damon and Dillon, like most children, find extraordinary moments in ordinary days. To them many things are new and exciting. Children have the clarity and ability to see God and the awesomeness of his creation without the hindrance of pessimism or cynicism.
If we go back to the Gospels, we see that many who encountered Jesus were in AWE. Everything he did – healings, miracles, and explanations – produced wonder and amazement. Even now, in this present moment, as Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father, his actions and involvement in our world is AWESOME!!!!!!!
Us adults can be made indifferent to wonder and awe by routine and familiarity. We become numbed to the wonder before us. Perhaps tired and discouraged over time, cynicism begins to replace awe. The hard part for us is to recognize the presence of God in our daily routine. We must work at it to get past the years of ingrained cynicism.
In the Book of Job, God takes Job on a tour of creation. The list God gives Job is only a glimpse of God’s handiwork. From the tiniest undiscovered particle to the largest galaxy, we see God’s sovereignty, glory, wisdom, affection, power, and more.
Johnathan Edwards said: “The Son of God created the world for this very end, to communicate Himself in an image of his own excellency…So that, when we are delighted with flowery meadows and gentle breezes of wind, we may consider that we see only the emanations of the sweet benevolence of Jesus Christ. When we behold the fragrant rose and lily, we see His love and purity.”
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Isn’t it?