Wonder

Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, *
what awesome things he has done on earth.

It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; *
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.

"Be still, then, and know that I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth."

- Psalm 46:9-12

Dear Friends,

We recently adopted a new puppy. Let me just say – I'd forgotten lots about what it was like to have a new puppy. I'd forgotten how often they need to be let outside to take care of their business. And just how close an eye you need to keep on them between taking them outside! How they are prone to chew on everything, except the toys you bought them specifically to chew on. How early they wake up!

Of course, it isn't just (or even mostly) bad stuff I'd forgotten. I'd forgotten how fun it is to play with a puppy. How excited they get when they learn a new trick. How loving they are. I'd forgotten the way they move around with a sort of reckless wonder in the world, discovering all sorts of new things all the time. It's been fun to watch and remember.

And it's been challenging. Because I long for something like that sense of wonder, but so many things in my life and in our world want to keep me from just that.  Our TV screens stay on constantly so there's not a moment to descend from those thoughts about God to that truer, deeper wonder in God. Our social media feeds lead us to believe that we must react to every word we don't like, every thing that upsets us, instantly and without much depth of thought – threatening to destroy our sense of wonder in those other people, made in God's image. The demands on our time, even in this season of social distancing, lead us to believe that we couldn't possibly spare time for wonder.

I long for it, because I believe that wide-eyed sense of wonder is, perhaps, the closest we get to communion with God. It's true that I love to think about God; it's true that the work and words of theology are invigorating to me. But wide-eyed wonder is where we begin really to meet God. And, oddly, as we live in a time when we are asking so many big questions – about race, about leadership, about our economy – wonder needs to be where we start, not some sort of bonus that we might get around to if it's convenient after we “fix” everything else.

So I write to encourage your sense of wonder. Especially now. Especially as we wrestle with big questions. Especially when we find ourselves faced with fears and worries and limits. Wonder recklessly.

God bless,
Fr. Quinn+