Wondering about....Wonder

I've been struck by how fascinated our society is by the word wonder.  It's prominent in two recent hit movies, for instance.  Last summer, I saw a movie I was very excited to see---Wonder Woman.

I think I was so excited because in my early teens I watched this version of the same character on TV:

I think this character appealed to me for several reasons.  First, the actress playing Wonder Woman on TV had the same first name as me.  Second, she was a woman superhero--not as common when I was younger.  But what I most appreciated about Wonder Woman was her emphasis on truth; she had a lasso that made people tell the truth, and fought for truth in both iterations of this character.  But in thinking about the word wonder, there is another aspect of Wonder Woman in the new movie that I found fascinating; Wonder Woman looks at our world with a sense of childlike wonder.  She tells someone that sells ice cream that they "should be very proud."  She sees snow for the first time and thinks it's magical.  And that is also part of Wonder Woman's charm--she sees things differently.

I recently saw another movie with this word in the title, based on this book:

I'd read part of this book to class recently, and I knew I wanted to see the movie when it came out:

I had the chance to see the movie recently, and I was again struck by that word....wonder.  Auggie, the boy in the story has a facial deformity.  He starts a new school in fifth grade.  But he has a secret weapon--a loving family.  His mother says in the film that he is a wonder, and in fact, he is.  He is really smart and over time, the students at his school begin to see past his outward appearance and find that his inner personality, wit and intelligence make him special.  His ability to see the world differently make him a wonder.

Why are these movies popular?  Of course, a lot has to do with the gift of storytelling the film makers have, the great acting and special effects, and all of the magic that movies bring to the screen.  But I think there is another reason:  we were created to worship.  We were created to be in awe of God and what is around us.  The description in Genesis of the Garden of Eden and of creation itself ignites our imaginations.  The problem is, that when sin entered the world, the wonder of the world was marred.  We look around us and see little to worship---or worship things that are not worthy.   So, often now, life is hard.  Disappointing.  Hurtful. We think to ourselvess,  "Is anything wonderful left in the world?"

But our quest for wonder stirs within us, anyway.  This is what drives artists, musicians, actors and actresses, filmmakers and anyone involved in creativity.  We long to experience wonder--and, miraculously, we sometimes do  We see a newborn baby cry, hear a beautiful symphony, read a great novel, see a painting by a master, are moved by a film...and we experience a glimpse of it.

These glimpses, however, are but a foretaste---a shadow.  Because they all originate in the greatest wonder of all.  An epic story of a God who created the world, was rejected by his creation, and then developed a plan over thousands of years to bring a Savior to the world, who would be rejected, die for the sins of its people, and defeat death.  And, wonder of wonders, He desires to continue that process today and work through flawed people for His kingdom purposes.  That is truly a wonder...and He offers it to you today.  Jesus came to pay the price for your sin...and to give you eternal life forever and abundant life today.  And the true wonder is that He helps us see differently--to look at the world and notice His presence and see the value of everyone.  To, as the Old Testament says, "seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God."