Wonder

Wonder is a word we use often: "I wonder...", "Wonderful!" or in church hymns, "wondrous." But what does it mean? Dictionary.com defines it as

verb (used without object)

1. to think or speculate curiously

2. to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel (often followed by "at")

3. to doubt

verb (used with object)

4. to speculate curiously or be curious about; be curious to know

5. to feel wonder at

noun

6. something strange and surprising; a cause of surprise, astonishment, or admiration

7. the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising; a feeling of surprised or puzzled interest, sometimes tinged with admiration:

8. miraculous deed or event; remarkable phenomenon.

Though that seems like a LOT of definitions, they all have one thing in common- they are all connected to the unknown. We as humans have a need to experience the unknown- we have a God-given curiosity and attentiveness to things that are new to us. It's part of who we are, and it's a positive thing! So, if you'd like to encourage this part of your internal makeup, particularly as it relates to your faith, there are 7 key things you can do (original article here):

1. Seek out displays of mastery and genius: Many of the great masters of art have been inspired by their faith, and there are some truly great songs, concerts, and hymns that have been similarly inspired. Sometimes we Christians fall into appreciating something for the effort and intention of the creator (which isn't bad) without really being moved by it and that mediocre acceptance can become overwhelmingly "standard." So if you're feeling "blah" and uninspired/unmoved by the things you've been experiencing, look for someone who's doing a truly great job at writing, singing, painting, etc. BONUS: it doesn't always have to be specifically Christian in nature in order to inspire a Christian sense of wonder! Isn't it amazing that God gave someone the talent to put those words in that order? What a blessing that she has such a moving voice! That TED Talk really makes me think about things more deeply- hallelujah!
2. Look at your life through someone else's eyes: Bring a friend to church, talk about your faith with a stranger, read about God and Jesus from a new and different perspective or tradition. Just like a person can look different when you see her in a picture instead of in real life, finding another way to explore things can help you find new ways to see the things you no longer find exciting.
3. Approach things from new angles: Since we discussed this at Christmas time, we talked about how we often view the nativity from the perspective of Christians, 2000+ years later. What if we took a minute to explore what finding Jesus looked like for the shepherds or the Wise Men? Joseph? Herod? Put yourself in their shoes- what do you see? What do you feel? Are you a bit more uncertain about putting your trust in a savior who's barely a day old? Or does it solidify things you've always dreamed? You can take a look at your church and the wider Christian fellowship in the same way- how does a woman from Guatemala approach Jesus? What about a man from Syria? What might they see? OR, in much simpler option, try sitting somewhere different in church next Sunday- does the change in physical angle/position inspire a new sense of the profound?
4. Change the context: Try doing church in a new way! If you've never read about faith, find a book at the library and settle down with a cup of something warm. Go to service within a different denomination or a different ethnic group- try a historically Black church, or experience worship in Korean. Listen to a podcast about faith online. You can get creative!
5. Slow Down: Clear your schedule and your ideas about how long something should take! For example, if you're walking home from school, walk extra slow- listen for the birds, explore every blade of grass, stop and watch that bug crossing your path. Try taking one step each minute (or even every 10 seconds), and become a connoisseur of your surroundings. Wonder and marvel at how they were made, how they are the same and yet different, and contemplate what that means within your faith framework.
6. Get out of Dodge: Go somewhere new! It doesn't have to be as far-flung as another continent- there are certainly parts of your hometown that are as-yet unexplored! Break up your habits and routines and try something new! Maybe try a new ethnic restaurant in town and wonder at how people and their traditional diets formed. Go to a new park, or even just a new neighborhood, and mentally explore what the residents of that area might be thinking- what are their histories, their hopes, their fears? Whether you're thinking about squirrels or septuagenarians, you're likely to find something to make you take a step back and say, "Wow, I never thought of that before!"
7. Change your lenses: The original article talks about viewing things through microscopes and telescopes (which certainly is a great way to gain wonder!), but this can be done mentally, too. Pick a topic and think about how it might be connected on the global scale- between countries and continents, and also between issues. How does the rainfall in Tunisia impact tourism in Switzerland? Does your purchase of that shirt influence education in Thailand? Don't just go for the obvious answers- think it through! The world is so incredibly interconnected, there are almost infinite opportunities to be blown away by the complexity of the web! On the opposite end of the spectrum, try exploring something infinitely small- go ahead and break out that microscope and think about mitochondria. Look at something you don't normally contemplate and really pick it apart- what makes it tick? Why? How?

There are two final things to remember:

1. If you believe that God made the world and everything in it, ANYTHING you contemplate in an attempt to create wonder can be an exploration in faith. Deepening your relationship with God and being enlivened with novelty can occur in any number of ways, and they certainly don't have to have an official "Christian" stamp in order to have an impact on your faith!
2. Wonder is mainly about attitude. You have to WANT to wonder before wonder will present itself. If you don't, you won't see it- or at least, you won't see it very often. Anyone can be a cynic, but you have the choice to be amazed and grateful and full of life. 

5 Minutes of God Time: O Come, O Come Emmanuel by The Piano Guys