No, really. I have the following quote printed and taped to my desk at work.
“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.”
This is a quote from John Milton – a poet from the 1600’s famously remembered as the author of Paradise Lost.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, GRATITUDE is a strong feeling of appreciation to someone or something for what the person has done to help you.
The poetic language of Milton is beautiful to read but it also challenges me to think beyond a simple attitude of gratitude. It connects our gratitude to the source of that for which we are grateful. We often hear of the benefits of an attitude of gratitude. But if we don’t think beyond the feeling of gratitude – then we only have a warm fuzzy feeling. Milton is pointing to something much more impactful.
On a beautiful fall morning in October, I went to the Hanover Courthouse to vote. As I was signing in to vote, I had a pleasant chat with the woman behind the counter. We were commenting on how lovely the weather was. She then said how much she loved the changing color of the trees – and how spectacular it was that we had nothing to do with it. This brief encounter reminded me it’s not enough to be grateful for the everyday epiphany of changing leaves. I must be grateful to the giver of the changing leaves. Gratitude bestows reverence.
According to gotquestions.org reverence is honor and respect that is deeply felt and outwardly demonstrated. The Bible records reverence as the automatic response of everyone who encounters the awesome grandeur of the Lord God Almighty.
Our everyday epiphanies are God’s reminder to turn to him – the source of our life and hope. When we know God, those moments become an awe-filled opportunity to worship and revere God. And when we string those moments together it changes forever how we experience life and the world. That leads me to one final note from my desk (this one is taped to my laptop.)
Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
When I acknowledge God in the everyday epiphanies and the awe-inspiring moments, I am reminded over and over again, that He is Creator, Sustainer, my Hope and my Life. And that leads me to the response of the Psalmist, “From everlasting to everlasting, you are God!”
Prayer: Dear God, please allow my eyes to see and my ears to hear the everyday epiphanies. And may my response always be one of reverence to you.
I am very thankful for you!