What a Wonderful World

Do you remember as a child, staring at a blade of grass? Or pulling out a magnifying glass and focusing the beams of the sun onto a piece of paper? Were you filled with glee with the sight of a ladybug walking along your hand? Almost without exception, we as toddlers were filled with wonder and curiosity about the world in which we were placed. What happened? For me, it was television, though the message comes from many other sources as well. You know the message I’m talking about. From Scooby-Doo to Abbott and Costello to just about a million other sources, we have heard the words, “I’m sure there is a logical explanation for all of this!”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against logic. One of my college philosophy professors told me that “Logic is very useful for snowing your friends.” And we know that God is a God of Logic. We see God work in process, setting things in order. And we, being made in God’s image, appreciate order. But just as “video killed the radio star,” so too our insistence on everything having a logical explanation has killed our sense of wonder.

I marvel at science. I am fascinated by many of the recent technological developments of the last few years. Science very capably answers the question of process for us; it helps us know what to expect in a logical world. But Science still has not answered the question of “why.” Science can tell us that an infant will grow in the womb at a certain rate, but they cannot explain why the child grows. I marvel at science and I think that it serves humanity well, but we must be careful that we don’t allow our fascination with explanation to kill our sense of wonder.

A healthy sense of wonder is part of our balanced worship life. Through a sense of wonder we marvel at the uniqueness of God’s creation. No two fingerprints, rose petals, stones, snowflakes, etc. are exactly alike. Think about it! God is worshipped by our curiosity and sense of wonder! So, as we move through spring and witness the growing season, let it again plant in us a sense of wonder. Let us make an effort this week to toss the “logical explanation” out the window and take the time to marvel at the majesty of our infinite God displayed in a blade of grass.

Let us join with the psalmist in saying: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:1-4

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