Wonder pulses through every atom of creation.(Cindee Snider Re)
REDISCOVERING WONDER
Wonder – to be amazed, enthralled, curious, awestruck, fascinated, surprised, transfixed...
I long to feel all those things, yet pain and illness often coat my days with an opaque film. How can I stand in awe when I'm exhausted, lonely, and dispirited?
Yet, wonder is an invitation to peel back the film and be captivated by the sparkling morning light, surprised by an iridescent dragonfly, and transfixed by the Spirit in every atom of creation.
Wonder invites us to let the brokenness slide off our shoulders for a while.
IN SEARCH OF WONDER
Nearly a decade ago, four of our five kids and I had just been diagnosed with serious chronic illnesses. As our world grew increasingly antiseptic, exhaustion obliterated wonder, industrial cleaners scrubbed out surprise, research eclipsed awe, and the scalpel of loss cut away curiosity. Yet when we lose the wonder of creation, we lose the wonder of who God is and who we were created to be in Him. He created everything with a word, speaking it into being (e.g., over 100 billion stars—and He knows all of them by name!). He counts every sparrow, every hair on every head, and knows every day of our lives before one of them comes to be.
When a friend reached out and invited me to shoot the cover of her forthcoming e-book, I suddenly recognized how spiritually dry my heart had grown, and I felt a bright little spark of curiosity. I was thirsty for hope, hungry for beauty, and desperate for wonder. I grabbed my camera and loaded it into the van, along with everything my girls would need for back-to-back weeks of infusions at Children's Hospital. As we got settled in the room, I noticed, for the first time, the immense frosted window in the bathroom. It was like a giant white box when the sun shone through, making it an ideal backdrop for the cover photos. That bright little spark of curiosity sputtered into a creative flame.
STEPPING INTO AWE AND WONDER
Creation is full of wonder. We are full of wonder. Our broken bodies and minds might not feel full of wonder, but they are because God is present in every single detail. Mark 9:15 says, As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were:
Each of us is one of a kind, uniquely purposed, and created by God, for God, and in His image. Every strand of our DNA carries His holy imprint. How long has it been since you were astonished by the wonder of God?
JUMPSTART THE JOURNEY
Step outside today. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply and feel the sun on your face. How does the air smell? What is just beneath your feet? Do you hear the breeze whispering through the pines, a bird singing, or an insect buzzing? How many sounds can you identify? Open your eyes. Notice colors, shapes, and the patterns of light and shadow. Pay attention to movement. What catches your eye? Watch your shadow as you walk. Where do you sense God moving? How is He meeting you today?
Wonder pulses through every atom of creation. It bursts forth in the faces of humanity, the sunlight streaming through the window, and the ladybug perched on the windowsill. Are you ready to be astonished again? Wonder is waiting for you!
PRAYER
Lord, when pain and exhaustion coat our days with an opaque film, help us peel it back so we can behold Your light again. Thank You for fearfully and wonderfully making us. How amazing that Your imprint is found in every strand of DNA! Open our eyes to the iridescent dragonfly, the sparkling morning light, and the breathtaking beauty of Your presence in every atom of creation. Remind us to breathe deeply and let the suffering slide off our shoulders for a while. We long to be astonished again. Amen.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
- Where do you see God’s fingerprint today?
- How does creation help you to step into God’s presence and long to know Him more?
- How is God meeting you in the dark?
Cindee Snider Re
Author, Designer, and Co-Founder of Chronic Joy®
Cindee is married to the man she loves most in this world, mama to five adult kids, four of whom are married, and Lolli to three adorable grandchildren. Cindee and her five kids have Ehlers-Danlos, intractable migraines, and myriad co-existing conditions. While a life steeped in illness is not what she would have chosen, through it, she’s learning that the deeper the valley, the greater her capacity for joy.
Cindee is the author of Discovering Hope, Finding Purpose, Embracing Worth, and I Take You in Sickness and in Health.
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