Wake Up to Worship!

You’re invited to enjoy the beauty of God.

by WILL and COURTNEY KASSNER

THE GRAVEL BOUNCING off those hollow metal fenders was a stark contrast to the stillness of the pre-sunrise drive. We turned off the main road in our 1988 Land Cruiser, the dim yellow headlights barely lighting the winding road that stretched ahead. The two boys in the back seat, up way before their typical alarm, had not stopped talking for at least 40 miles, beyond excited for what their first official deer hunt would hold. We didn’t need a radio; the music of those excited voices and that bouncing old wagon were quite enough to carry us along.

We pulled in through the old farm gate slowly, completely opposite of our racing hearts. I parked the car under my favorite old oak tree and did my best to keep the doors from slamming as the boys jumped out of the car. The morning was quiet and crystal clear. The night sky, though fading, was still filled with thousands of stars. The boys were almost enchanted as we walked through the tall grass on the way to our spot, mesmerized by the absolute quiet that surrounded us — it’s rare to get away from noise these days.

We climbed up into the deer stand and took a deep breath of the crisp morning air. Our pulses slowed now as the anticipation became reality, keenly pressing our eyes against the slowly graying light. It wasn’t the sound of the songbirds or the chatter of the squirrels that first woke my soul to the magic of the moment; it was the joy expressed in those boys’ eyes as they watched it all unfold. It might as well have been a fairy tale the way the morning came to light, the enthralling beauty of the fall landscape steadily burst forth as the sun grew brighter and brighter. There were deer and ducks, creatures of all kinds; everywhere you looked life was exploding. I had goosebumps on my arms as I sat there and thought, God is in all of this.

Your Invitation to Come

For days and weeks, that morning resonated in my mind; the chords and chorus of the morning played like a favorite song. I could not shake the feeling of how simply amazing it was to watch the majestic morning unfold. We did not have to buy a ticket or wait in line or stress about being on time. Watching the sunrise that morning felt like something we had been invited to, not as spectators, but as partici­pants. We sat with the Maker of heaven and earth, the God of all creation, and the most amazing part was we could do it again and again.

It would be this morning that would serve as the inspiration for our new book When the World Wakes Up. Mesmerized by the simplistic beauty of that moment, I was thrilled to share that joy the boys and I felt, or at least attempt to do so with mere words. When my wife and I started the project, we knew we wanted one point to ring loud and clear: God invites us to new joy each and every day.

I’ll admit it’s all too easy to get wrapped up in the monotony of routine, sludging along from familiarity to familiarity. We get so ingrained in the normal that we overlook the reality that the normal is not normal at all. There is so much beauty all around us: We just have to take the time to sit and see.

An Opportunity to Worship

Often our calling as parents and grandparents takes the back seat to the to-do list, our busyness defining the way we interact with those around us. But have you ever stopped to think the way we see the world establishes children’s worldview? We can respond to life with discontent and disgrun­tled complaining, but that is far from the legacy all  of us want to leave. Our calling, our invitation, is to see the world for the beauty God has instilled and the gift of life, especially a life lived near to Him. When we pause, when we sit, when we breathe, it is all an opportunity for worship.

Practically, there are two ways I love to find reminders of God in and through the beauty of nature. First, slow things down. Perhaps my favorite way to do this is to drive intentionally slow. Take the long way around. Go five miles per hour under the speed limit instead of over. It is amazing what you notice when you are not in a hurry. Truthfully, I do no not think God designed us to live life so fast. He gave us front porches and family dinners and sunsets for a reason after all.

The second practical way to see God in nature is to, quite easily enough, get outside. A stroll through the pines is more than just a walk. There are smells and sights and sounds. Reconnect with that childhood spirit: Pick up some pine needles and throw them in the air; sniff the rough bark cemented with sweet sap. Experience it. Soak it in! There are so many layers to the kaleidoscope of God’s creation, and we are greatly amiss to overlook His handiwork.

The Reminder to Enjoy

From the front cover to the final page, When the World Wakes Up exudes with color and brilliance, a vivid reminder that we do not need manufac­tured extravagance to find joy in the day. Whether it is watching the hummingbirds bounce about or taking note of the way the grass bends and flows in the gentle breeze, our hope is the reader, from 5 to 95, will revive that spirit of joy God has so graciously and freely given.

The joy of knowing God is real, and it is not just something we know, but experience. Our hope is that as you experience our book, your heart is encouraged to see Him in a new, refreshed, and wonderful way. Our Creator is there each day, waiting with your invitation, when the world wakes up.

WILL AND COURTNEY KASSNER live in North Mississippi with their three kids: Crew, Grey, and Sutton. They own and operate Crew + Co, a Christ-centered business that focuses on family devotional products. And of course, they love spending time outside.

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This article originally appeared in Mature Living magazine (March 2023). For more articles like this, subscribe to Mature Living.