Rev. Michelle's Message July 18, 2024

Today is one of those beautiful days on the Monterey Peninsula that remind us why we love to live here. I hope you are able to get out and enjoy it, even if just for a short time. For certain, it can be foggy and cold here in the summer, but when we get a day like today, somehow it makes it all worth it.

Sometimes when I’m heading toward PG and I come out of the tunnel, there is that moment where I catch a glimpse of the harbor, the sun sparkling on the water, the boats gently rocking in the waves, and I am overcome by the beauty of this place.

Have you ever stood by the ocean and just felt overwhelmed by its beauty and power and mystery? Or stared up at the night sky and been blown away by the sheer quantity of stars? That feeling is called awe, and not only is it an enjoyable feeling, but new science is revealing that it is actually good for us. Experiencing moments of awe can connect us with our own purpose, help us feel a part of something greater than ourselves, and put us in touch with our spiritual nature.

This is according to a book entitled, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life, by Dacher Keltner. I will be drawing from this book for my next two Sunday lessons, which will be about awe and wonder and how they can impact us in a positive way. I’ll be sharing with you some of my own experiences with awe and inviting you to consider your own. To make the Sunday lesson more meaningful for you, you might want to take some time over the next few days to think about your own experiences with awe.

When have you felt that deep sense of awe and wonder? Where were you? What was happening? How did you feel? Did it have a lasting impact on you? How often do you experience awe? Would you like to experience it more frequently?

Awe has the power to snap us out of our cynicism and wake us up from our jadedness. It is the antidote to our overly materialistic, politically-divisive, and screen-dependent lives. And I think we need that antidote now more than we ever have before.

I look forward to exploring this fascinating topic with you over the next two weeks.

Sunny Blessings,

Rev. Michelle