Monday Thoughts: The power in the recognition of a higher power

Last Monday, I jotted down a thought that came to me on a Sunday walk and posted it on Instagram. I enjoyed jotting down these thoughts, and so I did it again here, and might continue doing so until the thoughts no longer come, or are no longer fun to write. I hope you enjoy this series of Monday mind wanderings.

Two of my favorite verses in the Bible are: “What no eye has seen and no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived – that is what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). And “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds (Philippians 4:7).

I have become especially enamored with those two of late because both encourage a recognition of a higher power, something so much bigger than us as human beings that our minds cannot conceive of it, something that transcends our mortal understanding. And I especially love them because it does not matter if you are Lutheran or Catholic or Mormon or Jewish or Buddhist or Muslim or Atheist – the recognition of something bigger than ourselves is something we can all benefit from, a concept that forces upon us a sense of awe-inspired humility.

I don’t know if my good friend and former partner, Skylar McCoy, had any particular religious beliefs. But whenever we struggled, he’d pause and say “Just take a breath and look at the ocean, man.” It had an undeniable calming effect, for what are we — what is the real significance of a beach volleyball point? — when compared to the ocean? It’s why I start each practice with a jog down to the ocean and offer a simple prayer of gratitude, a habit that helps provide a little perspective for my mind and soul for the remainder of the day.

It’s also why, over these past few years, I’ve become obsessed with backpacking, surfing, skiing, open-water swimming – any activity where there is a full immersion in nature. It is impossible to stand on a mountain and view the vastness all around you and not get a sense of just how small and mostly insignificant any problems you’re currently having may be. It is impossible to feel the energy of a wave beneath your surfboard and leave the ocean without a deep sense of love and wonder for this world in which we get to live. You cannot poke your head out of a tent and listen to the rushing of a river and not feel downright giddy.

It’s humbling, and, for me anyway, necessary. We live in the safest, smartest, most sophisticated society the world has ever known. The vast majority of our problems in 2022 are, in reality, hardly any problems at all, something made so very clear whenever we get out and spend time in nature, when we get a sense of just how big and mighty this world is and just how tiny we are as individuals.

This is, somewhat paradoxically, empowering, for the recognition of something bigger than us allows us to also center ourselves on our most important roles in life. Suddenly missing a serve at match point, or falling off a wave, or getting blocked, doesn’t seem like such a big deal, because we know that the aspects of our lives that are big deals are being better spouses, friends, brothers, sons. It’s living a life more in harmony with our world, leaving it better than we found it.

That something bigger out there is inconceivable.

That shouldn’t scare you, but empower you, for how small are the obstacles before you when our universe is so very infinite?