When I was in junior high school my class took a field trip to a newspaper publisher’s building where we watched the production of a newspaper. At one stop we saw a tall machine that we were told was one of the most valuable in the building . It had only one function, and only one person was trained to use it. The function was simply to “justify” right and left the columns of the paper. We all stood in awe of the wonderful innovation that saved hours of man power from laboriously arranging the columns.

Today I was working at my computer and suddenly remembered that day. I was sitting at a machine much smaller, capable of doing a great multiplicity of tasks including justifying columns, all in my own home; and not seeing anything even remarkable about such a fact. The thing that had been an amazing wonder was now as ordinary as the automobile.

Does this mean that “wonder” is declining in our world? Are we all so used to being amazed by new technologies that we’re unable to experience real wonder any more? Is it simply out of style to be full of wonder at anything new?

Anyone who lives near or works with children knows that wonder is alive and well in human nature, but as we grow up and have frequent exposure to new technology, are we losing the capacity for wonder?

Webster’s Dictionary defines “wonder” as “a cause for astonishment.” Most of the great events in the Bible are accompanied by astonishment caused by the activities of God Himself: “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears of this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.’”

“When the shepherds had seen the baby Jesus, they spread the word. . . and all who heard it were amazed.”(Luke 2:18)

The Exodus is accomplished by one wonder after another, and Jesus’ ministry is full of wonders: . “.at least believe the evidence of the works themselves. Truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.” (John 14:11-12)

Since the time of the Resurrection no one has plumbed the depth of the meanings of the Resurrection, but millions of souls have grasped it and found there the one wonder that answered their hunger and desire.

Love in Him, Prue