Magnificent

By Pastor Paul Gauche

Today’s Word: ‘Magnificent’ as in… there are glimpses of “The Magnificent” all around us. There is abundant evidence at every turn that there is indeed Something Greater than all of us put together at work and play right here, right now. If only we had eyes to see.

I’ve read Mary Oliver’s poem “I Wake Close To Morning” countless times. I’m able to recite the first two lines with just the right amount of disbelief. I can speak lines three and four and follow up with “I know, right?” while rolling my eyes. I can even imagine Sheba, the Queen herself in all of her legendary splendor stopping at the crest of the hill, removing her crown and wiping her brow while asking for the map (again!). Then, glancing up, she squints and asks. “Hey Carl, you sure this it?”

In case you missed it:

Why do people keep asking to see
God’s identity papers
when the darkness opening into morning
is more than enough?
Certainly any god might turn away in disgust.
Think of Sheba approaching
the kingdom of Solomon.
Do you think she had to ask,
“Is this the place?”

Mary Oliver poetically reminds us that it’s all too easy to miss what’s right in front of us because we’re just not looking. There are glimpses of “The Magnificent” all around; ongoing evidence that Something Greater than all of us put together is at work and play right here, right now.

Our five senses are like open windows to this magnificence. Try this: Taste your food. You can’t taste what you don’t savor. Sit down when you eat. Try to avoid eating in your car. Or this: As your garage door opens in the morning, let it be a grand curtain rising on a new day. Watch as it rises. What do you see? Close your eyes for a moment and listen. What do you hear? Birds? Cars? Take a deep breath. What do you smell? Becoming aware of “The Magnificent” in this moment will convince us that this is indeed The Place.

#100days50words

Paul Gauche is the Pastor of Life Transitions at Prince of Peace. His posts are part of his #100days50words project, where be blogs about a different word each day. You can follow his project on Instagram (@pgauche), or on his blog, Thriving Rhythms.