Experiencing the sublime. I have to admit, when Karen first mentioned an episode on the sublime my mind instantly went back to the 90s. Me, standing in my bedroom, giant headphones firmly affixed to my ears, and the gritty sound of rock music piercing my eardrums. My father hated my music, still does. At least I wasn't practicing Santeria, and while I would have easily spent a million dollars then, I’d like to think I would be a bit more cautious with my money now. Either way, I shook the 90s flashbacks, and atrocious use of song lyrics, from my mind and focused on the task at hand. The idea of experiencing the sublime and how one does it when they’re godless?
First, the notion that the sublime is reserved just for the believer is preposterous. In a world of unspeakable majesty how can anyone stake claim to it? We know the processes involved in creating a glorious sunset, we can name the chemicals responsible for the overwhelming joy that parents experience when they hold their children, and we have devices that capture all the awe-inspiring moments of our lives. We download and upload these moments hundreds of times for others to see. One doesn’t need belief in a puppetmaster in order to appreciate the world, and all of its majesty, just as it is.
What does experiencing the sublime mean for me, though? What causes me to transcend this short little life of mine? For me, it’s those moments when the world stands still and it’s just you and those you love. It’s seeing someone, really seeing them, basking in their humanity and appreciating that they exist in this world right along with you. The sublime, for me, is the sight of my children running through a sea of falling cherry blossoms and being too into the moment to even bother reaching for my camera. For me, I transcend this plane of human existence when the awe of this universe, this planet, and its people take my breath away and remind me of my own humanity. No matter how big or small those moments are, they exist without a god, and I find that I appreciate them more now than I ever did as a believer. And for that, I’m grateful.
Were you so busy experiencing the sublime that you missed the Experiencing the Sublime episode? Don’t worry, I missed it too and I was suppose to be there! Never fear, though, because I’ve embedded it below. After you’ve enjoyed that episode, take a peek at our newest episode in the sidebar right over there ------>
Copyright(c)2015 Rayven Holmes
