The Mystery of Existence: Awe and Trust (Part 1 of 2)
From A Way of Life: Understanding Our Christian Faith
[Excerpted from “The Mystery of Existence: Awe and Trust,” A Way of Life: Understanding Our Christian Faith, Anthony J. Chvala-Smith, Herald House, 2019, pp. 25-27]
The earth rolls upon her wings; the sun gives his light by day, and the moon gives her light by night; and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings, in their glory, in the midst of the power of God. -Doctrine and Covenants 85:12a
Life is full of profound mysteries. …There is the mystery of beauty. Why does a full moon…or the vastness of the night sky awaken deep awe in us? There is also the mystery of order. Why do the march of the seasons, a V-shaped flight of geese, or the intricacies of DNA inspire us? There is the mystery of love. Why do being respected, needed, and embraced by another human being matter so much? And with love, there is the mystery of compassion. Why amid fear, hatred, and cruelty do some open their lives in kindness and vulnerability to others? There is the mystery of birth. How can so common an event stir such hope and joy in people? But on the other end of life, there is the mystery of death. What do we make of the stark reality of loss and pain, of our dread of endings, and of the love that survives them?
Among all these mysteries none is as perplexing as we are to ourselves. If we think about it, our very existence poses countless questions. Who am I? Why am I? Why do I seek for meaning to my existence? What is this strange longing in me, this desire to connect to something greater than myself, this need to devote myself toward something that is worthy of reverence, this yearning to entrust myself fully to a purpose worthy of my deepest commitment?
Beauty and order, love and compassion, hope and loss, longing and conviction: these experiences touch our lives with the awareness that we stand ever before a tremendous mystery. They link human beings across ages and cultures in a common language of awe and trust.
Their very existence helps us glimpse what it means to be human.
Yet from the perspective of Christian faith, these experiences are much more than riddles to tease our minds or even hints of a shared humanity. Life’s mysteries are signs that something greater is in our midst. These experiences are like the kind of instructions that say, “Start here.” The mysteries that meet us daily raise the most important of all human questions: Is there more to the universe than meets the eye? They are clues that a purposeful Presence, who is the source and goal of all things, is reaching out to us from our own depths. From this human experience of mystery emerges the question of the existence of God.
Prayer Phrase
God bless the spaces between us.
Spiritual Practice
Tears of Compassion
Offer a silent prayer for the gift of God’s compassion. Cup your hands and ask God to make you aware of the suffering that causes the Earth and its inhabitants to groan and weep. Be open to faces or places, sounds or voices, feelings of connection with those who suffer. Imagine catching the tears of those you see and holding them in your hands. Listen for prayer images or words God may give you. Discern any active responses of ministry or healing you sense invited to complete for those who weep.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
