Practicing Enchantment-by Heidi McLaughlin
Posted: October 7, 2023
When a word keeps showing up I believe God is trying to teach me something. That’s part of the enchantment. Today I was intentional about practicing enchantment. Here’s what is looked like. On my 5 km walk I decided to put away my phone and NOT listen to any sermons or podcasts, I chose to let God enchant me.
Let me explain.
Today before Canadian Thanksgiving 2023, the day is showing off its glory. It’s 22 degrees Celsius, no clouds in the sky, the trees and foliage are golden yellow and orange and from just the angle the lake is a sparkling diamond. With every step I soak in the extravagant beauty and at times almost overcome with tears. Walking up towards the Mission Hill Winery I encounter 2 beautiful young women who are awkwardly trying to take a selfie. I offer to take their picture, and then have a lovely conversation before I continue on. Soon it felt hotter than anticipated and when some shade shows up I welcome it with open arms. At the top of Mission Hill I find a park bench, sit down and spend some time messaging my granddaughter and leaving a voice message for my son. Toward the end of my walk is a hill of painted rocks and I take the time to linger over each piece of art and creation. When I arrive home I sit on my front steps to cool off.
I feel like I have been in the presence of God.
And that’s what enchantment can do for us. In Roger Helland’s book called PURSING GOD’S PRESENCE, he says this: “Cultivate the discipline of awareness where you daily notice and marvel at God’s glory in creation-the practice of enchantment. Beauty attracts us. It is crammed into God’s glory. The heavens declare the glory (kavod) of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork (Psalm 91:1).
Awe and wonder are essential to the human experience.
It helps us to remember the majesty, greatness and awe of God. We’re all stampeding through life at millisecond rates, so focused on our agendas and devices we don’t often look up to remember where our help comes from “The maker of Heaven and Earth (Psalm 121).” We must stop and once again become enchanted with the wonder and lavish beauty of God all around us. Taking time to do this enlarges the size of our God who can do the impossible, and shrinks those things that will someday evaporate into nothingness.
If I want to experience the presence, glory and power of God, I must learn to practice enchantment. Today I made a decision to encounter God and I’ve had the most extravagant experience. In spite of your circumstances, what can you do to practice enchantment?
2 responses to “Practicing Enchantment-by Heidi McLaughlin”
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Beautiful, from one who lives in a state of emchantment most of the time–but haven’t called it that. Now I will!
Thank you Belinda for practicing enchantment in your own state. I love it. Bless you, Heidi