The Divine is like a butterfly. It is so easily startled, so delicate in its sensibility.

Have you ever attempted, or better, succeeded, in getting a butterfly to settle on your hand or arm? You had to stay very still, didn’t you? Any movement, even a sharp breath, would startle the creature away. If you are still enough, it might favour you with a landing, trust you with its life.

The Divine is most definitely not a butterfly (though the butterfly is indeed of the Divine) but there are some similarities.

The Divine is exquisitely courteous. It will not enter where it is not invited. It cannot enter if there is no space made for it. It will not enter unless there is stillness.

This is not because the Divine is weak.

It is because it is so potentially overwhelming that it now dare not enter where not invited, will not enter where there is any resistance, will not ever be other than love. It will not damage. Perhaps it has done this inadvertently when invoked unwisely — something gave rise to the word ‘awe’.

Awe: A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder (OELD)

Awe: Awe is the feeling of respect and amazement that you have when you are faced with something wonderful and often rather frightening (Collins)

Awe: An emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime (Merriam-Webster)