Hindus consider Haridwar a holy city because the Ganges River runs through it. Hindus come to this river to worship, bathe and make offerings.Just before leaving for South Asia, I sat at a table with a family with a couple of small children. The couple asked if I would like to ask the Lord to bless our meal. Somewhere in my prayer I said, “God, you’re amazing.” After I said “Amen,” a little boy said, “What does amazing mean?” I replied, “Well, it means awesome. It’s something so good. It’s better than great.”
Really, I wasn’t sure how to define it. Kids are so inquisitive, and he just kept asking, “Well what does that mean?” After about five minutes, I became slightly overwhelmed at my inability to define words and this kid’s ability to keep asking questions.
When I got back to my room, I looked up the word “amazing”: “surprisingly great; inspiring awe or admiration or wonder.”
The more I think about it, the more I realize my humble prayer should have been, “God, you’re amazing – and I don’t even know what that means.”
We can’t define him. No amount of words in any language could adequately describe the greatness of God. No matter how eloquent my words are at times, those words don’t begin to scratch the surface of who God is.
I’m glad I serve a God who cannot be contained and defined. I’m also glad I sat beside that little kid with too many questions. He made me think about the words I so often say.
*Name changed for security reasons.