This title doesn't mean what you think it might mean. I'm not telling you to go out and be great, chase fame or capture your peak moments and carefully curate them on Facebook. This is an invitation to be awe-some, to open your heart to the daily experiences of wonderment. As I have learned to practice meditation, I realize how much of my time is spent not being truly present to what is happening around me. I catch myself moving through the day too rapidly, trying to tame my to-do list, which stubbornly grows weeds like my garden. Trying to catch up on the morning news; I miss the bird songs. I listen to someone's words without really hearing what they are trying to communicate. Traveling at the speed of Todd, I speed past the richness that could enliven my soul if I was more present.

Awe is "the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world," according to psychologist Dacher Keltner. Keltner recently wrote the best-seller, "Awe: The Transformative Power of Everyday Wonder." His book explores the importance of experiencing awe in our sense of well-being. "Twenty years into teaching happiness," he writes, "I have an answer: Find Awe." I'm taking that as my quest.

Being in Boothbay Harbor regularly brings me to an awe-some moment. My twice-daily commute crosses two bridges between Barter's Island and Boothbay. I vowed that I would always pay attention to the view as a spiritual practice. In winter, I often saw the orange sunset dipping into the water just off the rocky edges of Porter's Preserve. I can tell the stages of the tide by looking at the shipwreck off Hodgdon Island. I may see the whole structure of the hull in the morning and only the cabin's roof in the evening. In just a year, I see the tides claiming the ship piece by piece back into the sea. It reminds me that life is constantly rising and falling. I want the daily enjoyment and wonder before it is all gone.

Awe requires us to be in the moment and mindfully pay attention. Exploring nature is one of the easiest ways to do this. Walking in one of our many Land Trust Preserves can be a spiritual practice if we allow our attention to engage with the life around us. At Oven's Mouth, you might notice an oak tree growing out of a rock, slowly splitting it open as it matures. My wife, Jeanne, and I are starting a daily practice of watching the sun go down. Fortunately, We have a westerly view across the Sheepscot River, which offers a daily light show. But we must be watching at the right moment. Often the best colors only last an instant and will disappear if I am distracted by getting something out of the dryer. Some evenings are cloudy, and we don't see much, but if we don't organize our lives to show up, then we will never know.

This summer, "Be Awe-some" is our congregation's theme to remind us to connect with nature and each other. We will celebrate more of nature in our Sunday Services, find ways to gather outdoors, and nurture our souls in our gardens, out on the water, or in the woods. You can join us on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., or if you are not a church-goer, watch our Facebook page as we share ways to experience wonder. We hope you all have an Awe-some summer!