When Superlatives Fail Me!

“I wish everyone could attend a church like ours!” That's what I said to Monique on our way to the car after this year’s Christmas Eve services. Once again, we had been blessed in worship! This time it was the early contemporary service that was one of three special services Springfield First offered at 2, 4, and 7 on the afternoon and evening before Christmas.

 Laniakea Illustration: Mark Garlick
Milky Way (red dot)
sciencephoto.com

This contemporary service was full of heartfelt praise, lively singing of seasonal favorites, and a message of hope that had us reflecting on how a loving God sent His Son into this world! The energy in the sanctuary was contagious! Worshippers were drawn into a closer fellowship with the Father and His people. It was spiritually uplifting to conclude worship by breaking the darkness as hundreds of us held our lighted candles and softly sang, “Silent Night!”

 I was left nearly speechless and kept thinking to myself as we walked out into an excited crowd that had gathered for fellowship in the Atrium, “Wow! What an incredible experience!”  It’s times like these that superlatives fail me! I could have exclaimed my joy by using common expressions like, “Awesome! Amazing! Excellent! or Wonderful!” I might even have used a Texas expression that exults “I’m as happy as a dog with two tails!” Instead, my go-to exclamation these days is often, “Wowzers!” (A variation from the famed cartoon Detective Gadget’s wowsers!).

I have listened to several sermons during this past Advent season. It is interesting to me to hear how illustrations and applications have been made to recent scientific findings regarding a supercluster of 100,000 galaxies called Laniakea (That’s a Hawaiian word meaning “immense heavens” or “open skies!”). This immeasurable supercluster is 500 million light years in expanse! Our Milky Way has a staggering number of stars estimated to be 100 to 400 billion! Wowzers, what a light show! And yet, the Milky Way is only a mere celestial dot in the awesomeness of Laniakea’s unimaginable supercluster of galaxies!

One of the most fascinating stories within the Christmas story features the Magi who come from the faraway east, speculated to be Babylon/ Persia, to see the child Messiah born king of the Jews. The Scriptures say, “The star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!” (Matthew 2:9-10).

I do not question how these sages followed this star among stars! I reason that if God could create a vast cosmos of immense galaxies and stars like Laniakea, it would not be any great task for Him to guide a few curious first-century astrologers, philosophers or theologues to a house in Bethlehem where He could reveal to them and the world His toddler Son and Savior! The miracle of it all has me struggling for a better superlative than, Wowzers! "Thank God for this Gift too wonderful for words!" (2 Corinthians 9:5, NLT).

I hope this Christmas season has had you struggling a little to find the right words to praise God for His Gift to you! As we close this calendar year, I want to express my sincere appreciation to each of you who take the time each week to read this blog. Writers need readers! Thank you for your time, encouragement, and prayers! May you and your family have a blessed and Happy New Year!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
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