Introduction
We all know that centuries ago the scientific community believed the Earth was the center of the universe—an assumption that the sun, moon, stars and planets all revolved around Earth. This understanding of Earth and its relationship to other celestial bodies—referred to as “geocentric”— was the long held belief until the mid-16th century, when it began to be challenged by some guys named Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler, who insisted the sun, not the Earth, was at the center. Gradually, the geocentric model was replaced by the heliocentric one. This change was nothing short of a scientific revolution, or what we now call a “paradigm shift.”
A paradigm is a distinct set of concepts and practices that define a scientific discipline at any particular period of time. A paradigm shift is when established theories collapse and new ideas and understandings take their place.
The shift from an Earth-centric universe to a sun-centric one was a major “paradigm shift” in the scientific understanding of the cosmos, but it was hardly the only one. Many long-held theories throughout history were abandoned when new discoveries and better practices came along. Like for instance: quantum physics and quantum mechanics; big bang over steady theory; penicillin instead of using leaches; not actually putting cocaine in Coca-Cola; preachers only preaching for 15 minutes instead of hours and hours—I’m talking truly life changing, universe altering “paradigm shifts.”
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So a question within this idea of a paradigm shift becomes then… When a long-accepted explanation of how the world works breaks down, or is shown to be flawed or even wrong—like in the case of the earth not being the center of the universe— what emotion can help us delve further and leap into the unknown?
I know, strange question. But I got it when I read Dr. Helen De Cruz, professor of philosophy and humanities at Saint Louis University in Missouri, who says the answer to my strange question is the emotion of awe.
She writes, “Awe increases our tolerance for uncertainty and opens our receptivity to new and unusual ideas, which are crucial for paradigm change.”
I’ll read that again… “Awe increases our tolerance for uncertainty and opens our receptivity to new and unusual ideas, which are crucial for paradigm change.”
De Cruz then notes that awe is also a spiritual and moral emotion, citing the work of others who maintain that awe has two components: first, an experience of vastness; and second, a need for a mental accommodation to that vastness.
De Cruz writes, “Awe is a self-transcendent emotion because it focuses our attention away from ourselves and toward our environment. Awe, along with curiosity and wonder, are emotions related to the search for something deeper, therefore a person lacking such emotions won’t have the drive to become a good scientist who can change her mind on the basis of evidence.”
I know I am in the weeds a bit here, but I find it fascinating that there is science based thinking that a spiritual emotion—awe—is influencing, furthering and driving the need to go deeper and discover more and more about our world and the universe.
And all of this brings us to our text for today, Psalm 29.
As we read the 11 verses of this psalm, it’s clear the writer was in awe of the Lord. Just listen as the psalmist says: The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. And the rest of the psalm sings in a similar tone.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, one of the leading Jewish theologians and philosophers of the 20th century, insisted that awe is critical for not taking the world for granted and thus losing the ability to experience it with depth and reverence.
Which brings us to the crux of God’s word for us today… When we see how the world around us can lead scientists, philosophers, theologians, explorers and even skeptics to experience spiritual moments of awe then we have uncovered a pathway not only to knowledge and wisdom, but also a spiritual pathway to God.
Move 1
Now awe is great and all, but let’s call a spade a spade… We live in an age where we are not awed by much, and we often do take for granted the wonders that are all around us. It’s a paradigm shift that has regrettably been happening for the last several generations. Sure, we can look at a mountain range or an ocean sunset and be awe struck, but these are moments—not to mention we have neither here in Stow.
The awe I’m talking about, the awe of Psalm 29, enables us to sense possibilities we hadn’t imagined before— and that is what we need again. This kind of awe is exceedingly important in scientific research— but it is even more important in finding a spiritual pathway to God. We have forgotten what awe can do in us and for us.
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So how do we shift the paradigm back and reclaim the capacity to be awed? How do we, as Dr. De Cruz tells us, experience vastness; then tend to the need for a mental accommodation to that vastness? Well, one way can be to consider the experience of others, and perhaps find a pathway of our own. For instance…
Abraham Lincoln had an experience of awe, telling of such when he said, “I never behold the heavens filled with stars that I do not feel I am looking in the face of God. I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could lie looking up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
We can experience awe when we are struck by beauty around us, the surge and rush of the ocean; the quiet of a summer evening; by poetry or music; or like Lincoln, looking into the heavens on a clear night and seeing the face of God.
We can even be awed by the intricacy and effectiveness of the human body, as was the author of Psalm 139, who wrote, “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
But ultimately, life altering, paradigm shifting awe says, and show to us: There is life beyond what I have known, and it is a wonder to behold. And for many, awe is an intimation of God—a pathway to God. For a sense of awe is where the impulse of faith and spirituality often starts.
Move 2
A pastor took a group of youth to the upper northwest for a work trip. During the week-long trip, the group took one day to see the sights—as is often the practice on such trips— and went to see a forest of giant redwoods—trees and forests they had only seen in books and videos.
The pastor tells the story, saying, “As we made our way from the parking lot of the trail head the youth were naturally giggling and chattering and pushing each other around. But as we entered, nobody had to tell them to quiet down because they quieted down all by themselves. Everybody did. You couldn’t hear a sound of any kind. The vastness of everything was more than any words could describe.”
The pastor is telling about a paradigm shift happening to everyone in this group.
He continues, saying, “Two or three hundred feet high the redwoods stood. They made you realize that all your life you had been mistaken. Oaks and ashes, maples and chestnuts and elms we had seen for as long as we could remember, but never until this moment had we so much as dreamed what a tree really was.
“The youth didn’t have the life experience to identify what they were feeling as awe, but that emotion was there, and it struck them quiet. I would not be surprised if, in that moment, one of those kids had an awakening about a career in ecology or nature, or simply fell in love with the outdoors, a love that would have a bearing on other choices he or she made in the future. I would not be surprised if they had an awakening to think about God. After all, awe can set a direction for life and can even move a person toward God.”
The pastor concludes the story, saying,
After a long time of quiet silence, I gathered the youth around, engulfed by the massiveness of the redwood forest, and read Psalm 29… Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.
I read those verses to the teens, and without the need for any more direction, without the need for sermon, prayer or song, the group, all in their own way, in that moment, in the awe that surrounded them heard the voice of God.
Conclusion
There is something spiritual going on when we feel awe, whether we recognize it as such or not. We don’t even have to be a person of faith for something spiritual to make us feel the awe of God. But we do need to be open to the idea—the possibility—of seeing life beyond what we have known, and see it is a wonder to behold.
For when this happens there is a paradigm shift in our very souls, from “the world is all about me” to “the world is larger than me” or even to “this is God’s world.”
“Awe increases our tolerance for uncertainty and opens our receptivity to new and unusual ideas, which are crucial for paradigm change.”
So may we be open to the pathway to God that springs before us through the awe all around us. For when we are…then we not only hear the voice of God, we see the face of God. And our lives are never the same. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer, May 30, 2021
God of majesty, you create eye-catching sunrises and sunsets; you carve out a Grand Canyon, you stun us with giant redwood trees; you knit us together in our mother’s womb—wonderfully and fearfully made.
We gather in wonder, in silent adoration, in awe… for you are great and marvelous and you bless us beyond our imaginations.
And yet, for all your creative wonders, you would have us worship you more for your love than for your greatness; more for your care than for your majesty.
You sent Jesus because you love us so deeply. Sunsets and mountains and oceans lead us to your door, but Jesus is the one who takes us to your heart.
And it is because of Christ we know you want us to be whole, to stand tall, to reach out to others in need, to be aware that this world is bigger than we know, bigger than us, and filled with more beauty than we allow ourselves to perceive.
Holy God, help us to perceive the vastness of your presence. Help us to know more deeply that this world is beyond us.
On this Memorial Day weekend, when we remember those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice, help us to embrace the awe inspiring truth that shifting from a narrow focus to a vast focus changes our receptivity to new possibilities, creates profound gratitude, and gives us the ability to love without bounds or conditions.
Awesome God, you fill our lives with your wonder and your care. You set a table before us, you send your Spirit to guide us, you place us in a community that shares tears and joy, struggles and hopes. You give us the promise that death never gets to have the last word.
May we never forget, and never lose sight of these blessings. For the awesomeness of your creation, that is all around us, will always be a pathway to you.
We ask now O God that you would hear our prayers that are heart-deep and beyond words. Hear our yearnings and our worries; our gratefulness and our joy—as we offer them in this time of Holy Silence.
All this we pray in the name of Christ Jesus, who taught us to pray saying, “Our…”