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Mystical Experiences of Radical Amazement

Updated: Mar 11, 2023


We’ve been reading a great book for our season of Lent here at Bear Creek UMC. It’s a book written by Marcus Borg called, “Days of Awe and Wonder” and in it Marcus Borg coins a great phrase. In the book, Marcus is talking about meeting with a group of Christians and Atheists and just how tense that can be. But in this particular case the tension was erased when, instead of talking about God, he chose to ask folks in the room just where they had experienced awe and wonder in their lives. As he asked the question he was surprised at how everyone in the room just lit up. After he shares this experience, he writes this wonderful line: “It became clear that we had all had mystical experience of radical amazement.” Isn’t that an incredible line! “MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE OF RADICAL AMAZEMENT!” So cool!


Marcus Borg goes on to share that if you read your Bible carefully, most of the key figures in the Bible had mystical experiences of radical amazement. Moses and the bush that was burning and yet not consumed. Jesus and the experience of his baptism in the river Jordan. Ruth and Naomi and the experience they had with each other as they “clung” to each other in love as they made the radical decision to go back to Naomi’s home country. And on and on the Bible goes.


Last week while Cyndy and I were experiencing the mystical experience of radical amazement that is the Arizona sun, we were sitting in a restaurant having an amazing eating experience (another one of those mystical experiences) when, for some reason, I asked her what her favorite moments were for each of our children. I watched as her face lit up and even glow just a bit as her mind raced back to our time raising our kids. And then for the next hour and a half we both laughed and awed and basked in the wonder that is parenting! That was the best hour and a half conversation we’ve had in a long time.


As I’ve gone out visiting folks this past week, that has been one of my conversation starters, and it is amazing what has happened when that question is asked and pondered. People light up with awe and wonder. It becomes a mystical experience of radical amazement!

Perhaps that is where true worship begins. Not with looking up to the sky and shouting praises loud enough so that our God way up there can here. But instead, remembering and becoming aware of the awe and wonder in which we are truly immersed down here on earth.

Try something for me this week. Go on a pilgrimage for me. Just like the Israelites, all of us have been on a journey from one of being enslaved and trapped, through the wilderness, and into a land of freedom. As you ponder that journey, where did some of these moments of awe and wonder happen. What were you feeling when you experienced these moments. Life is full of transitions. And in each of these transitions, my guess is that each of us has experienced the great gift of radical amazement! And when we remember them, something powerful comes into our spiritual beings.


The ancients, when they had a moment like this, would often mark that place by placing a little mountain of rocks there, so when they came to that place again, they would recognize that “thin place” again. We can do that too, with our phones and cameras, or even better, by writing a poem about it or a song. This week I encourage you to get creative and find a creative way to mark those moments!


This is where I believe true worship begins. When we start with praise and awe, in a way, I think we put ourselves in the right posture to really hear from the God that is loving kindness.


Your pastor and friend, still glowing in the afterglow of dinner and conversation with Cyndy, Brook

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