Wonder - Part 2

The wonders of the earth reveal the beauty of God's character

It was around 27 degrees when I arrived at my daughter’s house the other day. Esme, my 5 year old granddaughter, ran to meet me as I exited the car.

“Come with me, Grams!” She was quite excited about something. I took her outstretched hand and walked with her to see what she had found.

“It’s frost!” She was pointing to the back yard. All the grass that lay in the shade of the trees was coated with a shimmering glitter of frost. Yes, it was beautiful. It was a wonder.

Remember my post about my word for 2021 last June? In January I chose a word to focus on this year. My word is wonder. I filled you in on the first half of the year and promised I would finish up this month.

Let me remind you about the definition of wonder - a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. I determined to keep my eyes and ears open to capture the wonder around me this year.

It is God who is the author and creator of wonder. The Bible starts out with the incredible announcement that it is God who created everything – the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1), and then everything that is in them. There was nothing created, then God created everything. Wonder-full!!

In June I traveled to Utah on an airplane. I marveled at the wonder of flight. A huge plane with more than 200 people aboard seemingly floating amongst the wispy, wooly clouds in a vast expanse of blues and whites. Miles high in the sky. When Salt Lake City came into view the plane smoothly descended and landed with a tiny bump. I wondered how many of those folks hurrying for their luggage gave any thought to the God of wonders whose lovely blue sky they had just safely dropped out of.

In July I witnessed the wonder of redemption and restoration. We attended the milestone birthday party for a family member who had previously been trapped in persistent addiction for many years. This person firmly testifies that only the power of a loving God, who pursues us even into the deepest abyss of darkness, can bring about so true and thorough a recovery.

August highlighted the wonder of human procreation which brought sweet Lilian into our world. A squirmy, squishy, perfect bundle of perfection, possibilities and promise – our eighth grandchild. The entire process from conception to gestation to birth is nothing less than breathtaking to me. Yes, there is the biology, the science and the chemistry of it all but still, how can we adequately explain the supernatural wonder that is human birth?

We traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains in October to view the wonder of fall foliage. From the Parkway the sights of reds, yellows and oranges stretching as far as you can see is stunning. I am not a fan of “brown season”, which follows, when the trees have no leaves and the view is brown/gray sticks. Autumn is a reminder that our God, who manages the seasons, assures us that life won’t be brown forever. It will be white with sparkly snow, or spring green, or multi-colored summer and then gloriously decorated again. The wonder of the seasons.

For me the month of November is always a time of wonder. The whole month I focus on Thanksgiving and giving thanks. I like to think about the folks that braved the scary travel across unknown waters to come to this country and make a new life here. They trusted God. I am thankful for them. I am thankful for the wonder of discovery and exploration and courage and fortitude. I believe God has placed those abilities in all of us. Not to do all the same things but to do the different things, the wonderful things, He created each of us to do.

In the Old Testament the Hebrew words “mopheth” and “pala” are used to describe wonder. Mopheth defines a splendid or remarkable work. Pala defines marvelous works or wondrous works. The Old Testament contains many astonishing stories of God’s wonders. His wonders reveal His love and His protection. They tell of His character, His power and His Kingdom here on earth.

In December we all recognize, whether we are aware or not, His most remarkable wonder of all – the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I love to read the Christmas story. Imagine it! This sin- plagued, sin-stressed, sin-damaged world needed and needs a Savior. God used ordinary folks to help Him write the story – an innocent young man and young woman, a harried innkeeper, hard-working shepherds, a greedy emperor, and a not so ordinary baby. The true story of salvation. Wonder of wonders we have a Savior.

There are also the small wonders. Lego creations! Someone envisioned the finished product, used the tiny blocks to build it, broke it down, wrote instructions and put it all together in a kit.

The mail! Hallmark estimates that there are approximately 1.3 billion Christmas cards mailed annually in the U.S. Yet my cards get to the addressees and I get theirs in my mailbox.

Online shopping technology! I choose a picture, press my card numbers in, a few days later the package is on my front stoop.

Oh yes, our world is filled with wonders, big and small. How about you? What are you doing today? Whatever it is, make sure you bring your wonder-focus. Look around. Marvel at the field of glistening frost. I promise your eyes will be opened to a new perspective. Enjoy.

I love you all. Hope you have a very, merry, wonder-full Christmas!

(Why not start thinking about your word for 2022?)