Snowflakes....

So....getting back to Wonder.

Ever find yourself looking up at the stars on a clear night and realize what a small part of the universe you are? Or on a bright summer day catch yourself looking up at the clouds amazed at how they just float there? Or become captivated by a feather gliding effortlessly in the wind?

Yeah....me neither. Sounds corny doesn't it? Who has the time anyway?

My kids do. Kids in general actually.

Kids seem to have a limitless imagination. I used to...I would pretend I was a spy decoding enemy plans. When I was a kid.

Kids are captivated by the simple. I used to be....I would play for hours in the tree fort in our back yard. When I was a kid.

When I was a kid.

I'm not a kid anymore and I'm afraid I've lost my wonder.

My wonder for God that is. Actually, I'm not afraid I've lost it....I know I've lost it (to some extent anyway).....and that makes me afraid.

I used to be "that guy".

The guy who attributed everything around me to God being at work. I still believe that. But it used to AMAZE me.

When did I lose it? How did I lose it? It's a Whisper God's had me chasing for a while. The best I can figure is that I lost it because of Life and Church.

Life....happened. My dad's death...our daughter Taylor's health issues.....happened. And it kind of jaded me. Made me cyncial about how God works (or when He takes a day off or a coffee break right when I want Him working on a project).

See...there it is.

I still love God. Still trust God. But walking thru Life happenings, I saw that sometimes the outcome can't be affected by our faith, our prayers, or positive mental attitude. No matter how much we fast, pray, lay hands on, anoint with oil, cry out to God, have others intercede for us - God's going to do what God's going to do. People still die and healing is reserved for ladies who sneak thru crowds to touch Jesus' cloak.

I know....sounds ugly doesn't it?

And then Church happened. I realized that at some point after I became pastor, I began feeling like I have to be able to explain or rationalize God to others (especially those who are jaded, cynical, or skeptical). But honestly? I'm tired of trying to....and I'm tired of feeling like I have to....explain God. Rationalize Him. Do you know how irrational that sounds?

Know what else I'm tired of?

Lost wonder for the divine and supernatural.

I don't want to be cynical anymore.

I don't want to be jaded or mad at God when Life or Church happens.

I want to be amazed by God again.

Not bored.

I want to be that crazy guy others laugh at because something simple stops me in my tracks with wonder and amazement.

I know the Bible says.....When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. The problem is....we took that to mean stop being a kid. And even when Jesus told us to start being a kid again if we want to follow Him....many of us didn't listen. We like grown-up-faith better.

Not me.

Not anymore.

I want my childlike wonder back.

That's why I've been intrigued with snowflakes lately.

I read about William Bentley (The Snowflake Man), who was the first person to photograph, study, and record snowflakes (over 5,000 of them).

What he found is that no two snowflakes are alike. They are each unique. When you get a chance, check out some of his pictures: http://snowflakebentley.com/

You know what else I realized while studying snowflakes? They are formed in a cloud. They are uniquely shaped....as they pass thru a cloud.

See to me, the first thought of a cloud is a bad thing. It's a cloudy and rainy day. I know there are clouds on sunny days too...but that's not the first picture I get with clouds. And a cloud is where this magnificent....uniquely shaped.....spectacle of God's creation (aka...the snowflake) is designed. And no two are alike. When that snowflake is gone....the world is without a little piece of uniqueness.

WOW!

So....I can't look now at a picture of a snowflake without being totally amazed with wonder. How did it get shaped like that? What path was specifically designed to get it to this very spot? It's magnificently and articulately made.....and will be gone within moments of landing on my coat sleeve.

And it was uniquely shaped.....by God.

It makes me wonder.

Right now...I'm on the lookout for All Things Wonder.....all things practically.....all things spiritually.....hoping they keep wonder alive in my life.

Thanks God for snowflakes.