Sermon Summary: Ecclesiastes and the Lesson to Marvel

Here's a summary of the sermon I preached on 4/23

Do you ever stop and just marvel at the world? I mean really stand back in awe of it all—the way our bodies work, the changing of the seasons, the sheer beauty of a sunrise over the mountains. Living in Colorado, we’re surrounded by things to marvel at. The crispness of the first snowfall, the vibrancy of aspen trees in the fall, the way crocuses and tulips push their way through the soil, announcing that spring is finally here. It’s like the earth is taking a deep breath after winter.

I marvel at animals, too. You all know I’m an animal person, but not just the ones we domesticate—dogs, cats, horses, chickens. I’m just as fascinated by the wild ones. The bears, wolves, foxes, and even the squirrels that find ways to outsmart us every time we try to keep them out of our bird feeders. I marvel at the arts, at music, at how people create something out of nothing—a song, a painting, a story. I marvel at science and engineering, at the brilliance behind the technology we use every day. How often do we take for granted that we can turn a faucet and water comes out, or flip a switch and light fills a room? Marveling at life isn’t just about noticing the big things—it’s about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.

That’s exactly what Ecclesiastes is getting at. It’s a short book, and I’d encourage you to read it. The writer, known as “the Teacher,” reminds us that life is fleeting. It moves fast. And because of that, he urges us to enjoy it now. Enjoy your work. Enjoy your food. Enjoy your family. Don’t put off joy for some distant future—because we don’t know how much time we have.

Jesus picks up on this theme in the Sermon on the Mount. He talks about the lilies of the field, how God clothes them in beauty, and the birds of the air, how God provides for them. If God cares that much about wildflowers and sparrows, how much more does God care about you? Jesus is reminding us to slow down, to trust, and to notice. Because in noticing, we see how God moves—not just in the grand, sweeping gestures of history, but in the quiet, personal moments of our lives.

So, where in your life do you need God to be present? Is it in your health, your family, your work? I believe that God is personal, God holds our hands even when God can’t fix things the way we wish. And just as we invite God into our own lives, we’re also called to show up for others. Who in your life needs a reminder that they are seen, that they are loved? A text, a call, a handwritten note—it doesn’t have to be grand. Small things matter.

Life is short. Someday, someone will put together a 10-minute slideshow of your life. What kind of story are you giving them to tell? Don’t let it be just work emails and to-do lists. Marvel at life. Marvel at love. Wake up and marvel—because tomorrow, the lights might just go out.