dumbfounded

One can not spend a week reading and thinking about Matthew's version of the Transfiguration without taking at least a moment to ponder ol' Peter. We all know Peter(s). They can't deal with silence. They have to sound wise. They jump at the chance to talk. We all know Peter(s).

This is perhaps the quintessential Peter moment; he's dumbfounded, but can't keep quiet. "Der, Um, Well, it is good for us to be here... how 'bout I build some houses... um... yea."

As obnoxious as the Peters of the world are; in this particular instance, he has a point. Meeting the holy is something that we a) can never be fully prepared for and b) can never really hope to understand. Jesus took him and a couple of other guys up a hill and BAM he glows and gets enshrouded by a cloud with Moses and Elijah standing next to him (how'd they know it was them anyway?).

How often have we found ourselves walking along when BAM God shows up. Pounding nails in a Habitat house or sitting in a hospital waiting room with a friend or praying or pumping gas; the Holy comes out of nowhere leaving us as dumbfounded as Peter. And what can our reaction be but, "it is good that I am here! And, how can I make this last longer?"

Sure, Peter never shuts up, but in this case, I think he has something to teach us.