Wonder

Wisdom begins in wonder.  ~Socrates
The Lord merely spoke,
    and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
    and all the stars were born.
He assigned the sea its boundaries
    and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
Let the whole world fear the Lord,
    and let everyone stand in awe of him.
For when he spoke, the world began!
    It appeared at his command.  ~Psalms 33:6-9

When was the last time you looked at the world around you and were filled with wonder?  When did you last think, “God, you are amazing, and this world you created is awesome”?

When our children were in their elementary school years, my husband and I made the decision to teach them at home.  It was challenging at times, but the joys far outweighed the difficulties.  One of the greatest rewards was a renewed sense of child-like wonder in me, and an excitement about learning right along with my children.  

My children and I attended several classes at a nearby nature preserve and learned a lot about many of the incredible plants and animals that God brought into being. We learned to see them for the unique creations they are, and for the important part they play in the ecosystem. If we saw an interesting bug in our yard, we photographed it, studied it, and searched the internet for information. We all got excited about identifying an insect that we had not seen before. I found myself getting caught up in their sense of wonder and joy. I even learned to appreciate my son’s pet snake. God’s creatures are truly amazing.

I’ve always been fascinated by the stars and planets.  I even took some astronomy classes in college.  I‘ve been blessed with several opportunities to look up at a clear night sky filled with trillions of stars, and each time I felt overcome with a sense of wonder and amazement.  God’s heavens are truly awesome.

The beach is one of my favorite places to be.  When I gaze out at the waves rushing into the shore, and hear the roar of the water as it splashes across the sand, I feel a sense of the power of God.  When I feel the gentle ocean breeze and the spray of salt water on my face, I feel the peace and presence of the Holy Spirit.  God’s oceans are truly magnificent.

In the midst of our current crisis, I have seen many people make sacrifices for the sake of others.  Essential workers are going above and beyond in their efforts to keep our needs supplied.  Neighbors are reaching out to neighbors, friends and family are contacting people they haven’t spoken to in ages, churches are reaching people they’ve never reached before, the young are watching out for the more vulnerable senior population, and words of encouragement and hope are being spread across social media.  God’s people are truly wonderful.

When I spend time reading God’s Word, and pause for quiet times of prayer, I am given the opportunity to know God for who He is.  As I learn more about my Creator, I am more likely to recognize the evidence of His work in the world around me.  God’s Word and presence are truly powerful.

Finding wonder and awe while navigating our way through a world-wide pandemic, is definitely a challenge.  When we are facing trying times, it can be difficult to feel our Creator’s presence and to see the evidence of His amazing handiwork around us.  We might find it hard to remember that God is still in control—that He is stronger than anything we are going through.  But God is in control and has been since before He first spoke the world into existence.

How do we re-capture a sense of awe like we had when we were children? How do we see a world full of wonder while living through times like these?  We have to look for it.  We have to intentionally look for the amazing in the mundane.  We have to seek out the beauty in the midst of the ugly.  And we have to spend time with our Creator so we will recognize the wonder found in His Creation.

The wonder of God’s world is out there ready to be found.  Let’s open our eyes and our hearts and look for it.

Be blessed and be well.