Turn AWE Into AMEN

The cover of the Sunday supplement had the word AWE in large print above a picture of the earth as seen from the moon’s surface. The title was to call attention to a phenomenon being studied with claims of increased mental health and happiness.

The body of the story begins with the definition of AWE. “Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast or beyond human scale, that transcends our current understanding of things,” says psychologist Dache Keltner. “Ah,” I think. “ It is a story about God and creation”. Alas, I am again mistaken; the writers are taken in by the world of reason, thinking as man, not as God’s loving creation.

Awe is an emotion, a feeling, a blind subconscious urge toward something , maybe supernatural. It may be a need in man’s spirit, occasionally coming forth giving man’s interior being a “sense” that everything is OK.” This may explain teacher Julie Mann’s comment in the article regarding the effect of seeing natural beauty in marginalized students.

The longer I stare at the large title AWE, I begin to see if one turns the W of AWE, (turn W upside down), then, the beginning of AMEN is seen. What is missing is not just the “N” of AMEN, but faith, belief in God who created all creation because of His love. AMEN, not AWE is the secret to eternal health and true happiness, not the health and happiness as suggested in the article. AWE may be a beginning, an inner stirring that sends one into reflective questioning, to move forward toward being open to His truth of His love. AWE is like opening a book and seeing the first chapter; one wants to read more, to understand the author’s intent, his motivation, and after reflection, one comes away with a new perspective, a new way of looking at self and the world.

The article depicts two men going up the mountain, being inspired by the sight from the top as did Moses. There Moses saw God, saw Him face to face; he saw Him in more than His uplifting creation. Moses saw Him and His creation with the inward eye, the eye of the heart, the heart filled with the faith of God. With AMEN, faith, we see His creation in a new way, and our lives are transformed, “a new source of transcendence every bit as wham as Canyonlands’ red gold spires.”

All history, especially American Indian culture attest to the change one experiences when Spirit enters our being. The realization of the connection between creation, Creator, therefore praise and gratitude is an integral part of Indian culture.

Thomas Merton sums up faith, AMEN, as “the only key to the universe; the final meaning of human existence, and the answer to questions on which all our happiness depend. “ It cannot be reached any other way. AMEN!