There are a handful of things I could
say I have learned from kids, that is, when I allowed myself look beyond the
gurgles and wailings to the true essence of innocence, beauty and…wonder. A few
of these I could see reflected directly in scripture’s directives.
One of them is WONDER. There was a
time my little cousin was fascinated by butterflies. Most kids would squeal and
run in circles when they saw one. Not my cousin. If he was squealing or running
in circles, it was because he was too excited and wanted to catch the critter. He
would “ooh!” and “aah!” all over, much to my irritation. I mean jeez, it was
just a butterfly. Who stands wide-eyed at a flappy critter? Apparently, he did.
I am not wide-eyed.
And I say that with all sense of
pride and smugness. Life and society have taught me to be practical. You are
not a “village” girl. Staring
wide eyed at city lights and buildings. Practicality…down-to-earth. It’s the
stuff of sophistication and well…maturity. Of course, there are some occasions
when I see something and go, “wow”, like say a technology or an art. But only
those things I can understand, at least to the extent where I know it must have
cost a lot to make it that “wow” inspiring. If God is too awesome for us, we’d
probably probe and prod till we lose the stars in our eyes. We run to science to
explain the phenomenon behind it. As if to say, “How dare You do something so
amazing I can’t understand?”
God is great, I say that all the
time. But somehow it has grown so…familiar. Yeah, God parted the sea for His
children to walk through, so what? It sounds cool but I wouldn’t allow myself
drool all over my Bible because of it. He is God. He is expected to do these
things, right? Besides, I’ve heard that a dozen plus times.
He stills the sun, he roars in
lightening and cloud, formed the world in six days, he walks on water, restores unseeing eyes, he
multiplies loaves of bread…litters the pages of the Bible with awe-inspiring exploits
and still manages to be everywhere at the same time. Yet, somehow I do not see
the wonder in this. My eyes don’t grow wide, I don’t gasp and mouth “wow” in
amazement, my mouth doesn’t go agape. It doesn’t occur to my slow brain and
familiar heart that THIS IS NOT NORMAL. People don’t generally go about doing
these kinda stuff.
“Truly I
tell you, whoever does not receive and accept and welcome the kingdom of God
like a little child [does] positively shall not enter it at all” (Jesus in Mark
10:15 – AMP)
But somehow I could feel God
pulling my heartstrings with his word. He tells me to receive his kingdom like a child,
first with blind-eyed belief, then with wide-eyed wonder and finally with open
arms. JUST LIKE A CHILD. A child who somehow thinks everything is fascinating. A
child who isn’t too familiar with the wonders of God. A child who would stop to
stare at the vastness of the sky and cry, “look!”, a child who jumps in excitement to see a bird.
I’m not awesome, He is. He gracefully
and powerfully causes His enemies to bow, He paints the sky with elegant and
fluid strokes, splattering His nature all over for us to see, He provides meals
from the sky, heals the sick, changes the heart of people.
Hangs on the cross.
He is awesome. And he has called me
to receive the beauty of His kingdom. He didn’t call me to probe it. But to
stand and watch with wide eyed wonder and parted lips at his bruised battered
face, bloodied body on a wooden cross till I cannot but fall to my knees in
worship. He has called me to the very Kingdom He purchased for me with his punctured
hands, those same mighty hands that formed me…that same heart that loves me.
I am called to receive, called to
accept, called to welcome. If the call was in a still small voice pulling my
heart or in a thunderous voice accompanied by lightening, it is not my duty to
probe it but to stand in wonder and brokenness and simply whisper, “Yes, Lord.”
God wants me to worship Him in the
beauty and wonder of His holiness and mightiness. His deeds and works should
elicit wonder. His kingdom should not be one I take lightly because I’ve heard it
a trillion times. His Kingdom should be one where its sheer beauty, power and
righteousness causes me to be awed.
I should receive His kingdom with a
WOW!
"Let be and be still , and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10 - AMP)
Side note: When last have you allowed yourself give the skies more
than just a passing glance? When last did you let out a shout of amazement
because the wonders of God cannot be contained? When last did you wonder about
the hand of God in a person?
Well, the other day, I was walking
home and I was able to capture the sky on camera;
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