I wonder if you have ever had an experience that humbled you? Often this comes at the hands of an innocent child, who suddenly says or does something that makes us feel very small in comparison to that child. I have had several of those in recent weeks. Or perhaps it is a particular moment when you see nature in all of its glory.
In the past several weeks, I have had a large number of these experiences. Driving through Ireland, I was humbled by visiting sites and cities where the Vikings had come years before the birth of Christ. I looked at the Cliffs of Moher, an 800-foot drop to the sea. I found myself to be very insignificant in comparison to these places and these views.
I drove to my beloved Abbey of Gethsemani and the sheer silence and thunderous peace of the place made me very humble indeed. As I walked through the church to receive the evening blessing of the Abbott after Compline, I was humbled. I am of no importance and yet I receive a blessing.
I drove to Pennsylvania to visit my daughter and through West Virginia and southern Maryland, I was humbled by the sheer beauty of the mountains I drove through along the way. I did not realize such beauty was right there along the road for me to see. And, on that same trip, I heard a new pastor preach a sermon to the congregation that was so intimate, I was humbled to be present.
And yet, through this veil of humility, I have discovered that I do matter. That I am not insignificant, though that is how it feels. This is the “fear of God”. Not fear as in afraid to be seen by God, but fear in terms of seeing that I matter so much to the Creator of the universe. That I am a necessary part of creation is a fearful thought.
You are precious as well dear ones. It is how you are created and the purpose for which you are created is to be loved by God. It truly is that simple, we are the objects of God’s purpose and love. God needs us to be in the world. That is humbling and makes all of the difference, to know that we matter!
TMM