Thank you for pointing us to wonder as an antidote to fear. I'll need some time to ponder your comments on the book of Job, because they turn some of the things I've always thought and felt about the book on its head--for instance, I've always thought of Leviathan as God's pet in the sea, based on the imagery of Ps 104:6, and even the imagery of Job 41 has seemed to me to focus on how humanity cannot conquer (not even using the Assyrian empire's brutal methods) nor subdue nor domesticate this apparently magnificent creature of God's making. Hm. So you've given me a lot to think about, seeing Leviathan as a representation of suffering and evil.
As for wonder, eleven days ago I got to see the aurora. I missed the best display, because I was at my church choir rehearsal when it occurred, but afterward I went for a 75 minute drive along the darkest roads I know (I live in a Philadelphia suburb; darkness diminishes every year), but they did not play for me. (Like Leviathan, in Psalm 104, which does not sport on human command). Later in the night as I took the dog out for bed, there was a weak plume of cranberry in the sky above tree and streetlight, and my heart filled with wonder. I am 65 and have never been far enough north for it to be at all likely. There it was, something I have yearned for all my life, and finally it was present to me. Five minutes of wonder. This must be something of what Simeon felt in the temple, holding that baby. My experience is less momentous, but not less full of wonder.
I also go to the woods for wonder. Autumn is my favorite time to walk there. Even more than the color, it's the spice of the leaves preparing to turn back into earth. For me, this is the incense of hope: creation lays down its work, confident that it will awaken to take it up again in several months. I can think of no more vivid picture of the certainty of resurrection than the turning of the leaves.
This was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for a bit of wonder to cheer me up this morning. I live in Europe so am already awake. I find your posts very inspiring because you reach the vulnerable part of us, and accept and nurture it.
I have friends going, so I hope they will give me all the details. It won’t be the same, but that’s the best I can do for tonight. I sure wouldn’t want to give anyone Covid. I sure hope I get to meet all of you at some point. Tonight you are only a mile away from where I live.
Thanks to Diana for going well beyond the cartoon version of Job often presented by religious writers. Of course this is what we all came to the Cottage to experience. Like many other readers, I have grappled with Job, exulting in the images presented in 38-41. I’d like to share a poem from my recent book with fellow Cottage readers. This rendering of Job 38 is addressed to modern humans. It begins with what I hope is a recognizable voice, but takes a different twist at the end.
“Voice of the Whirlwind”
Who is this that disturbs creation?
Who cracks the bonds of matter
and classifies the rubble?
Who samples the dust in the deserts of Mars
and light from the edges of time?
Who reconstructs the eons of Earth
and numbers its mass extinctions?
What kind of creature could tinker with cells
and toy with the blueprints of life?
You who’d grasp the tragic fate
to recreate the world – gird your soul
to grapple with angels and demons inside
while I test your pride with questions.
…
It goes on for a few more stanzas. If you’re interested, the full poem is at this link:
Richard Waganese is an Ojibwe Canadian author and journalist from the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations in Northern Ontario. (Died 2017) From a life of deep disenfranchisement and struggle arose a book entitled Embers: One Ojibway’s Meditations in which this quote is written:
‘The beginning of wisdom is the same as its attainment: wonder…there is always something to evoke
wonder, to wonder about, because this world, this life, this universe, this reality is far more than just the
sum of its parts… the overwhelming awe and wonder we feel teach us more than we can ever glean or
come to know of things. In the presence of that wonder, the head has no answers and the heart has no
questions.’
(Wagamese, Richard. Embers: One Ojibway’s Meditations)
Thank you for these reminders of God’s goodness. I have been listening to the song Where were you by The Porters Gate. It is an awesome reminder of these words and I highly recommend it! Your writing also reminded me of all the posts of the northern lights that have been on my timeline as if their increased visibility to other parts of the country is another reminder of God’s power.
Thank you Diane for this for these very important, meaningful thoughts. For anyone who would like to read more great insight on how Job and Psalm 104 open our hearts and minds to awe and wonder, I highly recommend Wm. Brown's Sacred Sense: Discovering the Wonder of God's Word and God's World.
Thanks so much for this. I needed it this morning. Our God is greater than anything. I will be watching for all the wonders I see today. Beautifully framed and great writing. You are His Wonder.
How pertinent this offering and how important for us to accept that through the Holy Spirit WE are agents of God’s Love. Years ago my adopted son was on the phone in the early hours of the morning, drunk, by a river and not able to cope with his first child’s crying. As I started to listen to his despair, I heard in my Heart, ‘Praise Me’.. I don’t know how long I praised - but I totally stopped listening to my son’s despair- until I heard from him, ‘Oh I don’t know - I expect I’ll SEE this differently in the morning.’
I still do this now if I feel out of control of any situation- I praise the One who created us to honour Him and Trust Him. I guess what I was doing was restoring awe for God’s Spirit - which turns all things to Good.
He needs those of us who know Him to keep PRAISING AND TRUSTING in these dark times to LIFT others from despair.
Thank you. I just finished reading an article in the NYTimes about the DT rally planned in NYC at the end of the month... I was sickened. Your "wonder cure" was a strong antidote ... I will probably have to read it every day until the election is over.
Beautiful and a timely reminder. It has been very helpful to me not just in those rough spots but every day to notice those small moments of awe, wonder, joy and it couples with a sense of gratitude. It pokes those tender spots, to see the beauty in the cycle of life, a nest of baby bunnies in the yard after the hurricane, birds in migration, that coveted seashell I find tossed up on the beach after the storm passes. All gifts, so grateful. Thank you for this.
Another writer here on Substack, Robert Hubbell, has taken to posting photos of stars and other wonders at the end of his daily letter, "Today's Edition", captioned as a dose of perspective. They are fascinating and wonder inspiring.
Thank you for pointing us to wonder as an antidote to fear. I'll need some time to ponder your comments on the book of Job, because they turn some of the things I've always thought and felt about the book on its head--for instance, I've always thought of Leviathan as God's pet in the sea, based on the imagery of Ps 104:6, and even the imagery of Job 41 has seemed to me to focus on how humanity cannot conquer (not even using the Assyrian empire's brutal methods) nor subdue nor domesticate this apparently magnificent creature of God's making. Hm. So you've given me a lot to think about, seeing Leviathan as a representation of suffering and evil.
As for wonder, eleven days ago I got to see the aurora. I missed the best display, because I was at my church choir rehearsal when it occurred, but afterward I went for a 75 minute drive along the darkest roads I know (I live in a Philadelphia suburb; darkness diminishes every year), but they did not play for me. (Like Leviathan, in Psalm 104, which does not sport on human command). Later in the night as I took the dog out for bed, there was a weak plume of cranberry in the sky above tree and streetlight, and my heart filled with wonder. I am 65 and have never been far enough north for it to be at all likely. There it was, something I have yearned for all my life, and finally it was present to me. Five minutes of wonder. This must be something of what Simeon felt in the temple, holding that baby. My experience is less momentous, but not less full of wonder.
I also go to the woods for wonder. Autumn is my favorite time to walk there. Even more than the color, it's the spice of the leaves preparing to turn back into earth. For me, this is the incense of hope: creation lays down its work, confident that it will awaken to take it up again in several months. I can think of no more vivid picture of the certainty of resurrection than the turning of the leaves.
This was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for a bit of wonder to cheer me up this morning. I live in Europe so am already awake. I find your posts very inspiring because you reach the vulnerable part of us, and accept and nurture it.
Wow!
I am SO BUMMED! I live in Tempe and have tix for tonight’s Convocation Unscripted at Dayspring. But I tested positive for Covid this morning 😭🤧😷!
OH NO! we'll miss you!
I have friends going, so I hope they will give me all the details. It won’t be the same, but that’s the best I can do for tonight. I sure wouldn’t want to give anyone Covid. I sure hope I get to meet all of you at some point. Tonight you are only a mile away from where I live.
Stay safe and spread good news of a better way!
Thanks to Diana for going well beyond the cartoon version of Job often presented by religious writers. Of course this is what we all came to the Cottage to experience. Like many other readers, I have grappled with Job, exulting in the images presented in 38-41. I’d like to share a poem from my recent book with fellow Cottage readers. This rendering of Job 38 is addressed to modern humans. It begins with what I hope is a recognizable voice, but takes a different twist at the end.
“Voice of the Whirlwind”
Who is this that disturbs creation?
Who cracks the bonds of matter
and classifies the rubble?
Who samples the dust in the deserts of Mars
and light from the edges of time?
Who reconstructs the eons of Earth
and numbers its mass extinctions?
What kind of creature could tinker with cells
and toy with the blueprints of life?
You who’d grasp the tragic fate
to recreate the world – gird your soul
to grapple with angels and demons inside
while I test your pride with questions.
…
It goes on for a few more stanzas. If you’re interested, the full poem is at this link:
https://birdsongboulder.com/2024/10/20/voice-of-the-whirlwind/.
(The stanza breaks didn’t come through on this post. See the link for a better presentation)
Timely passages and application to these days. I don't know...... I'm just not there .....
Awe and wonder…thank you Diana.
Richard Waganese is an Ojibwe Canadian author and journalist from the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations in Northern Ontario. (Died 2017) From a life of deep disenfranchisement and struggle arose a book entitled Embers: One Ojibway’s Meditations in which this quote is written:
‘The beginning of wisdom is the same as its attainment: wonder…there is always something to evoke
wonder, to wonder about, because this world, this life, this universe, this reality is far more than just the
sum of its parts… the overwhelming awe and wonder we feel teach us more than we can ever glean or
come to know of things. In the presence of that wonder, the head has no answers and the heart has no
questions.’
(Wagamese, Richard. Embers: One Ojibway’s Meditations)
Thank you for these reminders of God’s goodness. I have been listening to the song Where were you by The Porters Gate. It is an awesome reminder of these words and I highly recommend it! Your writing also reminded me of all the posts of the northern lights that have been on my timeline as if their increased visibility to other parts of the country is another reminder of God’s power.
Thank you Diane for this for these very important, meaningful thoughts. For anyone who would like to read more great insight on how Job and Psalm 104 open our hearts and minds to awe and wonder, I highly recommend Wm. Brown's Sacred Sense: Discovering the Wonder of God's Word and God's World.
Thanks so much for this. I needed it this morning. Our God is greater than anything. I will be watching for all the wonders I see today. Beautifully framed and great writing. You are His Wonder.
How pertinent this offering and how important for us to accept that through the Holy Spirit WE are agents of God’s Love. Years ago my adopted son was on the phone in the early hours of the morning, drunk, by a river and not able to cope with his first child’s crying. As I started to listen to his despair, I heard in my Heart, ‘Praise Me’.. I don’t know how long I praised - but I totally stopped listening to my son’s despair- until I heard from him, ‘Oh I don’t know - I expect I’ll SEE this differently in the morning.’
I still do this now if I feel out of control of any situation- I praise the One who created us to honour Him and Trust Him. I guess what I was doing was restoring awe for God’s Spirit - which turns all things to Good.
He needs those of us who know Him to keep PRAISING AND TRUSTING in these dark times to LIFT others from despair.
Thank you Diane.
Just beautiful and precisely what is needed at this time. Thank you so much.
Thank you. I just finished reading an article in the NYTimes about the DT rally planned in NYC at the end of the month... I was sickened. Your "wonder cure" was a strong antidote ... I will probably have to read it every day until the election is over.
Good Idea about reading every day.
Beautiful and a timely reminder. It has been very helpful to me not just in those rough spots but every day to notice those small moments of awe, wonder, joy and it couples with a sense of gratitude. It pokes those tender spots, to see the beauty in the cycle of life, a nest of baby bunnies in the yard after the hurricane, birds in migration, that coveted seashell I find tossed up on the beach after the storm passes. All gifts, so grateful. Thank you for this.
Beautiful words we sorely need.
Another writer here on Substack, Robert Hubbell, has taken to posting photos of stars and other wonders at the end of his daily letter, "Today's Edition", captioned as a dose of perspective. They are fascinating and wonder inspiring.