Totally awesome

I am a realist. While others see the world in ideal terms, I see a place where bad things happen, happy endings rarely occur, and the glass is usually half empty. Some might call it pessimism; I prefer to think I'm not setting myself up for disappointment.

It takes a lot to truly impress me. When I was in the 8th grade, my parents and I made the trek to the Grand Canyon. I remember the anticipation and thrill of that first lookout. How awesome it was. How amazing that someplace like that could exist. Seven hours and 17 lookouts later, however, I wouldn't even get out of the car, telling my parents, "Hey... you've seen one big hole, you've seen 'em all."

On the same trip, we went with my mom's parents and aunt and uncle to see the California Redwoods. What an amazing sight. But three hours into the trip my mom could barely contain her exasperation with me as I napped in the car while my dad shot six or seven rolls of film. It was an impressive sight at first, but I just don't see the need to see 100 of those trees to experience the grandeur.

A beautiful new purse makes me happy. A cute pair of shoes makes me smile. And a new lipstick can change a bad day into a better one. But only temporarily. Eventually the purse gets an ink stain, the shoes rub a blister, and the new lipstick is lost somewhere underneath my car seats.

Many have said that Generation X, of which I am a member, is a generation that likes instant gratification. We bore easily, spending mere seconds on a website before losing interest. We rarely make long-term commitments to jobs, houses or, quite sadly, spouses. We have DVRs and satellite radios because we can't make time for commercials. We are a multi-tasking, ambitious lot, who thrive on change and excitement.

But I am completely and continually astounded by God. Every time I open my Bible it speaks to me. The same verse, read at different times and by different people, has a completely different application. It is living and active and has remained current for more than 2,000 years. Isn't that cool?

Yeah, I'm not easily impressed, but every day I nearly weep at who He is. It's like that song by MercyMe, "I Can Only Imagine," which says, "Will I stand in Your glory, or to my knees will I fall, will I sing 'Hallelujah," will I be able to speak at all"... Can you even begin to fathom what it will be like to see Him face to face? I can't imagine being able to stand or speak, but just to fall down before Him and be amazed. Because of who He is.

I'm crying as I write this. Every day I am prideful of who I am, but when I pause to think about how small I am, how great He is, and how amazing it is that He loved me enough to save me from myself, I am in awe.

I got tired of the Grand Canyon in mere hours. The awe-inspiring, everlasting God will impress me for eternity.