Novelty and Wonder

Novelty and Wonder

It is amazing how fleeting novelty is. Something which can completely captivate our minds one day may be found to have lost all allure by the next. It seems frequency and normalcy erode our enjoyment of the things around us. I was struck by this notion a few days ago when, walking home from the tram station, I passed by this house with its enchanting tower. How fun would it be to live in a house like this? Can you imagine having an office within the tower and looking out the window at the French Alps?

For you, who do not see this tower regularly, hopefully the novelty of such a house is still intriguing. For me, the initial wonder has faded with time. As I walked by this house with the tower, I realized that the wonderfulness of the house has not changed; I have just become used to seeing it. But when I made the conscious choice to notice the house, I found myself once again marveling at how cool this old building is.

The novelty of something is temporary, and essentially a passive response to something new piqued my interest. In contrast, to marvel or be awed by something without the aid of novelty, is an active choice. While regularity tries to trade awe for normalcy, I can choose to maintain my wonder. The marvelous nature of something is intrinsic to itself and is not affected by my thought or perceptions. A sunset is beautiful, regardless of the presence of observers.

The world that God has created around us is amazing. Not only that, but it is incredible what God has done to save humanity from ourselves. We remember Jesus’ death on the Cross and His triumphant resurrection, and we are humbled by His work. Our God is good and He does wondrous things. We can sing of His glory from now until eternity for all that He has done.

                        

In our human frailty, we can forget how awesome our God is. I remember as a child in church getting bored with people always talking about the Cross or Jesus. My childish response came from immaturity and lack of understanding. It is right for me to be awed by my God. Perhaps the novelty of Christ’s work has worn off, but my wonder only grows.

As children of God, we are called to the discipline of wonder. Our God, His creation, and His redemptive work are eternally awe inspiring, and cultivating our awareness of this helps us clearly see them. We glorify God when we respond in awe to His work just as any artist likes to see others enjoy his or her creativity.

When did you last marvel at God for who He is? How do you see His wondrous character illustrated by the world around you?