When was the last time you were astonished by something you witnessed? Maybe it was a magic trick. Perhaps it was the birth of your child or grandchild. Perhaps it was simply someone doing something that surprised you. Or it could have been some extraordinary act of kindness.
A child can be astonished by the smallest thing. As we get older, we may get more cynical and less attuned to the astonishing happenings around us. To me, that is sad. Life is fuller and more meaningful if we are open to astonishment or the wonders in our lives.
Luke 9:42-43 says, “But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God.” In this story, Jesus heals a boy at the request of his distraught father. Note the reaction of the witnesses of this miracle. They attributed it to the majesty of God. I would suggest that if you and I are not seeing the majesty of God around us, it is because we are not paying attention. God is always performing astonishing works and His majesty is evident in all of them.
Just this morning I saw an amazing sunrise. It seemed so bright that it looked like a forest fire at the horizon. The clouds were beautiful shades of orange and purple. I could have ignored it as an every day event, but I chose to pay attention to the astonishing light show painted by God this morning. This sunrise is a small thing, but how many big things do we miss by not being open to God’s majesty?
Reluctant Retiree 