Relationships...and Fear vs. Awe

I've never been good at time management, as evidenced by the fact that I am blogging at 1 in the morning. But it happens. I'm finally putting effort into developing some sort of relationship with my cousin, despite our lack of common interests. She's into dance, social justice, human rights, etc. I'm into science and the brain and how people think...I think. I'm not actually sure at this point what I want to do.

You know, relationships can be hard! But the hardest relationship is the one with someone who you're not entirely sure is there. Supposedly he's everywhere, but sometimes it feels like he's nowhere. Like he's left, gone on a business trip or something. Weird metaphor, I know, but that's not important. What is important is trying to figure out where I stand relative to the omniscient, omnipresent God that I'm trying to make an important part of my life. I don't even know! I've been told I'm his bride, his daughter, etc. But somehow it's really hard for me to believe that.

My mom, when I finally told her about this ongoing struggle of mine and how I didn't know how to interact with a God that I feel I've always been told to fear, told me that it's really hard to explain the difference between awe and fear to a small child. The words just aren't in their vocabulary. But even now, at eighteen, I still haven't figured out the difference. Sure, there are dictionary definitions, but how do those help?

fear:
1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude
4. reverential awe, especially toward God
5. something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension; something a person is afraid of

awe:
1. an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like
2. Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence
3. Obsolete. fear or dread
4. to inspire with awe
5. to influence or restrain by awe

You see! They're too connected to explain. But to me, awe is more like being inspired by someone/something; to look up to them, to use them as a role model. Fear is more to be afraid of them. I have a fear of falling, but I'm in awe of people who aren't afraid to stand up for what they believe (think MLK, Susan B. Anthony, Abraham Lincoln, etc.) Ignore the fact that they were all standing up for political beliefs, not religious ones, but still! No matter what you believe, if you are strong enough to stand up to ALL of the naysayers, even when there are more naysayers than believers, then I applaud you and, to some degree, I am in awe of your guts.

But really, how do you explain that to a five year old? They're still in awe of the world. Everything is new and inspiring to them. They don't understand yet. Try again in 15 years. Either they'll have figured it out by then, or they'll be able to understand better any metaphors or examples you might give.