12-21-11 Wonder
Today’s word is wonder. I sat here, at my computer, yesterday and watched videos about wonder. I walked around my house and sang “O, the wonder of it all.” I thought about it a lot today. When did we lose the wonder?
I remember standing at the Grand Canyon, speechless, trying to absorb the magnitude and the beauty. I held my grandson seconds after he was born. I have experienced a depth of love and forgiveness from people who could have leveled heavy justice and judgment. O, the wonder of it all.
Recently I’ve read a statement and heard it in sermons. The author is most often cited as unknown, but I think he or she gets this idea of wonder. S/he said, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”
I imagine that standing out on the hillside being serenaded by an army of angels, the shepherds had their breath taken away. Looking into the face of the baby born to take away the sins of the world must have taken away Mary and Joseph’s breath. And humble as they were, it must have been breath taking to witness three magi bowing before their child and bringing extravegant gifts to pay him homage.
How’s your wonder when it comes to the Christmas story? The miracles of Christmas? Can you still come to the manger with the wide-eyed wonder of a child? O, the wonder of it all.
Pot of Manna 