Matt Nelson - October 15, 2023
Part 2: Wonder
STREAMS IN THE DESERT Wonder 10.15.23 Wonder: To live in wonder is to live with a sense of awe in the face of the divine and to appreciate the beauty and goodness of God’s design all around us. Mark 10:13-16 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Wonder is not an escape from the real world but a way to be radically present to it. Turn around and believe that the good news that we are loved is better than we ever dared hope, and that to believe in that good news, to live out of it and toward it, to be in love with that good news, is of all glad things in this world the gladdest thing of all. – Frederich Buechner How do we rediscover wonder, mystery, and the beauty of the world we live in? Fight against busyness We slow down and learn to be present in a busy and distracting world Fight against control We remind ourselves of the goodness and sovereignty of our heavenly Father Fight against cynicism We teach our souls to recognize the beauty all around us Fight against agendas We create space for joy and play and the freedom to be like a child “Maybe the burning bush was burning all the time and Moses didn’t notice. Maybe the miracle is when you stop and pay attention.” - Francine Prose A Liturgy of Wonder By Dalmo Mendonca Creator God, Giver of Joy, In a world that rushes and roars, we pause in your presence. We silence our hearts, our minds, and our mouths, just to behold You. Amid the clamor and clutter, we choose to marvel in Your majesty. We remember You, the sculptor of stars, the painter of sunsets. We remember You, the composer of dawn, the architect of the seasons. Amid the hustle and hurry, we choose to witness Your wonder. Jesus, the Image of the Invisible God, Rekindle in us the flame of fascination, Foster in us a heart of holiness, a spirit of sanctity, As we observe Your creativity in creation.