Blah or Awesome? … Hello weekend readers! I hope you are not having a ‘blah’ day or a ‘blah’ life either. This past week I’ve had some fun talking to the kids that are camping here. The young ones love our playground so much their parents almost drag them back to the campsite! There is nothing ‘blah’ with these kids—every minute is taken up with joy and laughter.

For the teens it’s a bit different. Why? First, we are surrounded by mountains so their cell phones don’t work very well and honestly, they get bored and sullen. One 15-year-old boy said “this is just “blah-blah-blah!” So, I took a moment with him and his 2 other friends to ask why they thought it was ‘blah’. The answer was “without our phones there’s nothing to do.” I decided to meet their challenge, saying “OK, look around—isn’t this an incredible place? You have a beautiful lake and mountains everywhere—do you get to see mountains and lakes every day?” (I knew they didn’t, they were from a big city in the Midwest.)

I shared legends from our indigenous folks and other stories. When I mentioned beautiful sunsets (which we are known for), they went blank—they don’t see that in a big city. I showed them one of my prize photos of our sunsets at Lake Abiquiu and that broke open their eyes and minds. I told them they could take pictures with their phones tonight—now the challenge was on! But I wasn’t done yet—I continued to tantalize their minds about precious quartz, agates and other stuff right here in the park—that began another excursion for them.

However, the real challenge was met that evening when God showed up in the night sky, with shooting stars and a Milky Way that no kid would ever see in a big city. When they left, they had smiles, cared less about their phones—except to share their pictures with friends, and asked their parents if they could stay longer! One of the teenage girls gave me a big hug and whispered “this was magical.”

Our Creator has given us a huge planet with wonders beyond any human’s creativity. From the outdoors to the incredible soaring buildings, cathedrals, bridges, etc, there is always something “beyond us.” In fact, an old story about a British politician who took his 8-year-old daughter on a tour of London is a good example. When they came to Westminster Abbey, the awesomeness of it struck the little girl and she couldn’t stop gazing at the towering columns, the stirring beauty of the Gothic features, windows, statues, and the beautiful sounds of the pipe organ. Her father was intrigued at her concentration, she was truly captivated. He asked her, “Sweetheart, what are you thinking about?” Her reply was precious: “Daddy, I was thinking how big you seem at home and how small you look in here.”

And that is exactly what happened to my teenagers here at the park and for Al and I, it happens every day. God’s wonders are so amazing—so-so-big that we, too, are captivated if not awestruck. Like our teens, we can easily lose our sense of wonder of God. Young or old, this society puts its wonder in cell phones, selfies, clothing, wealth…and so much more which fades and rots. It dulls our senses, skews our vision to the point that we miss who God truly is and what God has created for us—just for us—what a gift!

In Psalm 65:8, King David expresses his wonder and awesomeness of God’s creation saying:

“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders:
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy!”

Have you lost your sense of wonder and the awesomeness of God? Has life living with a smart phone-computer-tablet-busyness-money-seeped into your mind, crowding out your wonder and joy of all that God has created for you? I have an antidote for that! Step out tonight and look up, no matter where you live—the night sky is still there with its moon and stars just waiting for you to watch and marvel. Look again at a sunset or sunrise; watch a bird fly as if they have not a care in the world; go looking for neat rocks, marvel at tall trees and incredible structures, oceans and lakes, streams and waterfalls. There is so much you can never be exhausted!

Remember that old saying, “God don’t make junk?” That means there is NO BLAH in God’s wonders of creation and the wonders of how he created us! AMEN.