Awe

Gathering: Now, as we gather, let’s pause to center ourselves, give thanks for the blessings that we have in our lives, and to be both present and mindful as we enter a time of thought and discussion. Tonight let us think, listen and speak so that our speech will not only be worth listening to, it will move the hearts, minds, and souls of those listening.

Focus: An interesting paradox is that the experience of awe is often what moves a person towards seeking a religious or a scientific understanding of their world; one emotion and two different world views.

“The joy of science lies in pondering the magnificent and seeking answers to the unknown,” writes Jonathon McPhetres, a the author of a new study published in the journal Cognition & Emotion. McPhetres finds that feeling awe leads to greater awareness of the things we don’t know, which in turn makes us more likely to seek out a framework to fill those gaps. Science is one such framework.

Likewise, awe often is responsible for the growth of spirituality in people. In one of the most comprehensive studies on awe, scientists found that,”Experiences of awe decreased tolerance for uncertainty, which, in turn, increased the tendency to believe in nonhuman agents.” In short, experiencing an awesome event turns one inward, reduces their image of self and increases their connectedness to others and the universe in which they exist, i.e., Spirituality.

Sentences on the Subject:

“There are two ways to live: You can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.” Einstein

Awe is more than an emotion; it is a way of understanding, gaining insight into a meaning greater than ourselves. The beginning of awe is wonder, and the beginning of wisdom is awe. Abraham Joshua Heschel, in Who Is Man?

I had an experience… I can’t prove it, I can’t even explain it, but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real! I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever… A vision of the universe that tells us, undeniably, how tiny, and insignificant and how … rare, and precious we all are! A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater than ourselves, that we are not — that none of us — are alone! … I wish I could share that. I wish, that everyone, if only for one moment, could feel that awe, and humility, and hope. But … that continues to be my wish. “Ellie Arroway” in Contact (1997), based on the novel by Carl Sagan

Always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.” George Carlin

Below is some “food for thought”, a few probes that might kick start a conversation. Read over them and pick one (or more, or none) to discuss. Remember to hold space for others to share and share only what you feel comfortable sharing.

Probe 1. A Wall Street Journal article describes how current research shows that the capacity to feel awe makes people more empathetic, generous, kind, and humble.  The actual feeling of awe and the experiences that inspire it make us healthier, improve our relationships, and give more meaning to our lives.  The author writes, “Awe is an emotional response to something vast, and it challenges and expands our way of seeing the world.  It might be triggered by an encounter with nature, a religious experience, a concert or a political rally or sports event.  We’re not likely to find it on a treadmill at the gym.” Discuss a time (or times) when you have experienced awe.

Probe 2. Architects design areas in their buildings that are designed to inspire, to elicit am “Oh, Wow!” or even a touch of awe. Psychologists suggest that companies would be better invested in creating a work environment that encouraged awe and wonder. What practices do you have (or could you develop) that provide an escape from the daily routine and into a sense of wonder?

Probe 3. “I might be labeled a ponder addict.  I love to hold something and look at it from all sides, to imagine the various perspectives and ways something could be observed.” – T. Lewke.What big idea, concept, or mystery reoccurs to you as a ponderance, a thought to which there is no answer at hand.

Probe 5. Modern science tends towards reductionist thinking, the dissolving of the whole into the sum of its parts and the interpretation of the parts into a mathematical algorithm. We tend to think of ourselves as a scientific society. In doing such, have we lost our capacity to experience awe?

Commission: Hold on to what is good. Love deeply. Honor others. Stay excited about life and your faith. Be joyful. Be patient. If you pray, have faith. Share with people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes. Be loving to those who hurt you. Be present; be in the moment. Be agreeable, even with those with whom you disagree. Be humble. Be a friend of people who aren’t considered important. Do the right thing. If possible, live in peace with everyone. And remember, no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey- you are welcome here.