“We Are Always Beginners”
October 27, 2026
The other day, I read an interesting article in The Atlantic about how AI is changing our hobbies (November 2026, pp. 26–27). The author enjoys fishing. One day, he received a link to an Instagram post from one of his fishing partners. It showed an angler holding a gorgeous fish. As he looked more closely, however, he noticed a couple of problems: striped bass have seven stripes, not twelve, and people usually have five fingers on each hand, not six!
Thanks to AI-generated images, the fish seem to be getting bigger and more impressive. Not only that, but it is becoming harder to believe what we see, whether in an image, a video, or even a piece of writing. The author laments this change and concludes, “We have lost the ability to believe in the accomplishment of others.”
I don’t know about you, but I find it increasingly difficult to maintain a sense of awe in this emerging age of AI. I worry that we are on the verge of losing our ability to say “WOW!” in exchange for convenience and efficiency.
How can we continue to treasure our capacity for awe? I think we can learn something from our children and grandchildren. Our little Hannah just turned seven, and I love spending time with her. I love seeing the world through her eyes. She is always curious, exploring, and learning from just about everything. I love her spontaneous creativity and her genuine reactions to the world around her. I keep her crafts in a box and look through them from time to time. They refresh my sense of wonder.
Brother Lawrence offers us another wonderful example. He was not an outstanding leader but an ordinary brother who worked in the kitchen. Yet people came to him for counsel and wisdom. He lived as though God were his constant companion, seeking to remain always in the presence of God. He once wrote: “I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.”
What a beautiful reminder! Even the simplest, most ordinary moments can become opportunities to experience God's presence and love. I truly believe God gives us countless signs of his goodness and beauty that invite us to stand in awe of him. These are among the means of grace through which we encounter God's presence. We find them in nature, in the eyes of our children, and in the ordinary moments of everyday life. So today, as I cheer on Grace at her cross-country meet, I will look up, lift my eyes to God, and say, “WOW!”
How about you? Where do you see God?
This week, there will be plenty of opportunities in the life of our church to experience our awesome God! On Halloween, this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we will hold a special bake sale at the Furniture Barn. All proceeds will support our youth conference in 2027.
This Sunday, we will celebrate All Saints Sunday, remembering those who have gone to glory this year and giving thanks to God for their lives. Also, five United Methodist churches will gather at our church for our Church Conference at 2:30 p.m. My prayer is that this gathering will be a time of spiritual refreshment and renewal, restoring our sense of awe before God.
AI is real, and it is affecting nearly every area of our lives. Our concerns about financial insecurity and physical frailty are real, too. But our God is greater. May we never lose our sense of wonder. May we always remain beginners, with eyes wide open to the beauty, goodness, and grace of God. May we always stand in awe of God.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Victor
Prayer Concerns
Please keep God's beloved children listed below in your daily prayers. If you would like to add a loved one to our prayer list, please let Wendy or me know:
Karen Antonio, friend of Eve Hoffman; Alan August and Joel Strawn, family of Anna Tissari; Betty Cameron; Jamie Cartier, daughter of Pam Cartier; Beatrice Ellicott; Louise Fietz; Lois John, close friend of Bill and Susan Glass; Matilda Keinath, granddaughter of Al and Pearl Keinath; Julie Kennie; Andrew Mitsis; Jeannette Leupold; Louise Monroe; Tom Osborn; Pete Peabody; Irene Shaw; Holly Reid, friend of Jeanne Huseby; Richard Strawn, husband of Anna Tissari; Giullo, relative of John and Sandy Duncan; Tom Wruk, son of Jane and Frank Wruk; Layla, granddaughter of Hyacinth Lawrence; and Deadra, Hyacinth's daughter.
Worship and Sermon
If you missed this Sunday's service, you can watch the worship service and read the sermon using the links below.
- Worship Service: https://youtu.be/W5SvmzZ0Juk
- Sermon: “Dependence”
https://324oldmainstreet.blogspot.com/2026/10/ dependence-deuteronomy-1110- 12-john-91.html
Our worship services are also broadcast on Channel 26 on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.
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