(And Why We Can Still Learn From Mary Oliver)
“Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
— Mary Oliver
Every once in a while, a line from outside the walls of the church echoes something profoundly true about the heart of God. That’s Mary Oliver. While she never claimed Christianity in a doctrinal sense, her writing carried a posture Christians would recognize instantly: wonder, reverence, stillness, gratitude, and a deep attentiveness to God’s world.
She may not have worn a label, but she listened well. And Scripture affirms that truth can be seen by anyone who pays attention:
“Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities…have been clearly seen.”
— Romans 1:20
In other words, God doesn’t just speak to the religious.
He speaks through His creation, and anyone with open eyes can overhear Him.
Where Attention Leads
Oliver’s invitation—to pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it—perfectly mirrors the pattern of Christian spiritual formation. The Psalmist said it this way:
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10
Attention is the doorway.
Astonishment is the awakening.
Testimony is the overflow.
In a culture running at breakneck speed, attention is an act of resistance. To slow down is to declare that God is here—present in the ordinary, near in the unnoticed, whispering in ways we often miss.
And when we do notice, we are astonished. Not with loud, dramatic moments, but with the quiet realization that God has been in our midst all along:
“The kingdom of God is in your midst.”
— Luke 17:21
Tell About It
The final invitation—tell about it—brings us full circle into our calling as followers of Jesus.
“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.”
— Psalm 107:2
You don’t have to preach a sermon.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
You just have to tell the truth about where you’ve seen God—
even if it was in the unexpected places, the quiet moments, or the cracks of your own brokenness.
Sometimes the most powerful testimony begins with four simple words:
“I finally noticed God.”
A Thought for Your Week
This week, resist the hurry.
Pay attention.
Let yourself be astonished.
And then, courageously—gently—tell about it.
It might awaken something holy in someone else.
And that’s the mid-week memo.
