Living awestruck

Sometimes I forget to live awestruck.

Most recently, this happened in the early weeks of 2017.  I’m not sure exactly how it happens because if I knew the trigger maybe I could prevent the process.

But most of the time I just find myself looking at life void of wonder. Boiling down my days to a series of tasks to be accomplished.

When I get in this mode, the hours take on a very productive cadence. Nothing wrong with that really, I mean being productive is a good thing. Except, if I’m not careful I start acting a bit like a drill sergeant – to myself and to others.

Before long I’m thinking… why am I grinding my teeth?!?!

Have you ever been there?

I should be used to it by now.

Slipping out of wonder is an easy hazzard for me.

Then as if by divine intervention, something comes along to pour the color back into my black and white world.

My friend Julie was that divine intervention a few days ago.

She simply sent me an Instagram message with a link to this beautiful creative..I spent the next 20 minutes going through Magbug’s photos and reading her thoughts.

When I finally clicked off of Instagram I felt a sense of calm and gratitude that God prompted Julie to send me that message.

One deep cleansing breath in…

…and just like that my world was full to overflowing with beauty again…

I kid you not, everything looked, smelled and felt different.

On my morning run I noticed the trees with their winter silhouettes stretching graceful against the gray sky.

A posture of praise. 

At home I opened the kitchen door, the birds around here are giddy about the prospect of spring and I wanted to hear the chirping.

The sound of praise.

That night as the winter sunset blazed bright pink for just a few minutes, I thought of my great nephew Mason. He was coloring a picture in front of his window last week while watching a blazing winter sunset…

“I’m coloring with God”  he told his mom.

Praise…out of the mouths of babes.

 A day without praise drains me of wonder. 

That’s my trigger when I don’t see my world through a lens of gratitude, I miss the beauty around me. 

I hope your first weeks of 2017 have you awestruck over the simplest of wonders…

But in case you’re like me and you’ve forgotten, maybe go on a walk and pay attention to every single nuance.

Then give thanks.

Or say a prayer of thanksgiving while watching God color a brilliant sunset.

Or just sit for a moment in quiet gratitude after the rest of your house is tucked  in for the night.

This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.

Psalm 118:23