Looking Beyond the Surface
4/20/25My wife snapped this photo of me, but she was really capturing the blue heron that had quietly snuck up behind me.
He startled me when I finally noticed him creeping up on me. Funny reminder we don’t always see the full picture around us, and there is always more to learn.
I am on a retreat with my family in Fairhope, Alabama, enjoying Easter Weekend. This is me on Saturday morning, taking the opportunity to sit by the bay to read and write in my journal.
I was reading Luke, wanting to refresh my perspective on the Easter story. As I read I got stuck on verse 1:50 which says “His mercy extends to those who fear Him…” Fear isn’t a word I use to describe my relationship with God. So, I turned to my AI tool and learned the Hebrew word for fear is yirah - a more fitting translation is awe or a deep reverence. Then I was reminded Luke originally wrote it in Greek, using a version of the word phobos, which does have the meaning of fear of danger but also the meaning of awe-filled reverence. That awe-filled reverence is more fitting for how I interpret my relationship - more like the vastness of a starry sky, or the majesty of a mountain range - the feeling is not fear, it’s more like the exciting anticipation to explore and discover the endless edges of the creation we all get to experience.
When we look beyond the surface, or beyond what is sometimes just put in front of us, we often find a richer, more meaningful truth. And that’s a lesson I’m taking from this—a perspective not just about my faith, but in all my relationships.
If this weekend holds significance for you, and you’re reflecting on it, maybe take a moment to consider your own assumptions. Sometimes, a little curiosity, and a desire to dig a little deeper can reveal fuller meanings and truths that inspire that awe and wonder that help us grow to become better versions of ourselves.
