How to order our astonishments…a wondrous phrase that made
me sigh into a knowing yes-nod. Such a
particular word, astonish or astonishment.
The specificity of choosing that word was part of the attraction for me
because I find myself considering the concept not infrequently.
Shock, astonish, surprise…linguistic cousins, but not
triplets.
One of my thoughts re: surprise/astonishment is that it’s
the difference between “EEK!” and “Wow! Seriously? Huh…”
I wondered what others thought about the nuance of the words
so I posted a question to friends on Facebook.
“Is there a difference for you between being surprised and being
astonished? What’s the distinction, if
any?”
One friend explained that for her, it was simply an issue of
gradation. Her talking parrot uttering
an insightful thought= surprising. Her
dog= astonishing.
The first comment, though, and its subsequent 8 likes by others
was enough to confirm a common leaning of multiple friends. One is
being caught off guard and startled, the other being amazed by the outcome.
One of the qualities of Jesus that I most admire is that he is
never seems surprised. Enter the chaos,
don’t contribute to it. Receive people
as they are, send them forth confirmed or consoled or challenged to change if
they so choose. Hope for the best, deal
with what is.
Astonished, though? Perhaps.
I mean, there’s no lack of emotion or the slightest hint of a flat
affect… Could NOONE stay awake??” Astonishment.
Sorry, Mom, Dad… you were actually looking for me and didn’t think to
look here?? Astonishment.
My own astonishments could certainly use some ordering these
days.
That the president of the United States is still allowed to
Tweet: astonishing. That the great focus
of this past week has been on football players peacefully bowing down to one
knee during the national anthem in protest of police brutality when a country
that is a US territory is still without water and electricity after a
devastating hurricane= Astonishing. The
perfection of a dahlia flower=Astonishing. The generosity of God, the
compassion and cohesion, of feet on the ground humanity after a
disaster=Astonishing. The fact that grown
men, the leaders of two powerful militaries with access to nuclear armaments
are taking up international headlines because they are calling one another
names= astonishing. The wonder of chemistry that allows for vinegar to be added
to soup and the whole potful of goodness brightens and blooms=astonishing.
And so I find myself with all of this and with God…and
together astonishment seems to bloom.
Not into understanding, perhaps…rather, into perspectives…
Sometimes the perspective is a scary one…to lay witness to the
devastating potential of the worst aspects of human nature…greed, egoism, narrow-minded
righteousness, fear…
And sometimes the perspective is humility, is grace, is
love, is awe.
Both are real and how I react to them has consequence that
goes beyond me.
Like the rich man who walked away; Like those who went home
when the offer came to throw the first stone. Like the women who stayed. Like
those who sat on a hillside, offered what they had for the good of the whole,
thought about a bigger picture, and in so doing left everyone satisfied.
Please help me live in the here and the wow. Help me order my astonishments and hold them together in truth, hold them together in the fullness of your heart, the greatest Mystery, the greatest perspective.
