“It is with men as with wheat; the light heads are erect even in the presence of Omnipotence, but the full heads bow in reverence before Him.”
– Richard Joseph Cooke (Leaves of Gold, pg. 23)
This quote grabbed my attention quickly. I could attribute that to the smile it prompted at the idea of “light heads” and “full heads!” Before proceeding, please know I have no interest in accusing anyone of being a light head, or assuming with pride that I am a full head. Rather, my attention is drawn to what I believe is a common problem within modern Christianity, namely the lack of a healthy sense of reverence before God. The space to flesh this out would require much more than is allowed here. For that reason, this post does little more than to raise the issue, falling far short of providing any resolution.
I would quickly acknowledge the wide difference in opinions regarding what reverence for God looks like. Much of our interpretation of that rests in cultural norms that have been handed down to us. Many of us have been raised with strong ideas of “how to behave in church.” The problem is, not everyone is playing from the same rule book, even though everyone thinks their rule book is the correct one. Thus we are primed to draw conclusions about others and their apparent lack of reverence—conclusions that very well might not be true. The last thing I would ever want is to suggest that someone is irreverent when that is not the case.
Perhaps part of the conundrum is how we answer the question of our proper response to the presence of the Divine. Isaiah was overcome with a sense of unworthiness when he found himself in the presence of the Lord (Isaiah 6). God instructed the Hebrew people to not even touch the mountain on which Moses would receive the covenant (Exodus 19). Then you have Jesus, the approachable rabbi who took children on his knee. On one hand the Divine overwhelms us in fearful awe. On the other hand the Divine draws us near in extravagant love and gentleness. Which is the appropriate response to the presence of God? Both.
For today, it may be good to remember that reverence is ultimately a matter of the heart. If there is no reverence in my heart, my actions mean nothing, regardless of whether or not they appear reverent. I do want to be comfortable in the presence of God. I never want to be casual about the presence of God. If I can keep that healthy tension in play, perhaps by God’s grace I will avoid being a “light head” who fails to be moved with awe in the presence of the God of Creation. Full reverence is due Him. Let us not be fools who fail to give it.
See you along the Winding Path.
The Winding Path 