“Can’t you just be amazed and move on?” – Frank Walker (George Clooney), Tomorrowland
Incredible things happen in our lives every day. The sunrise and sunset. The stars that appear each night.
All around us, there are miracles. The pulsing of blood through our bodies, our ability to be moved by beauty.
And yet, how easily we take it all for granted. And too bad because wonder is good for our souls and, interestingly, there’s evidence that our sense of wonder is good for the people around us.
An article from The Gospel Coalition highlighted research that has found a connection between awe and other-centered living.
For example, after showing people various “elicitors of awe,” scientist Paul Piff of the University of California, Irvine, said, “We found the same sorts of effects — people felt smaller, less self-important, and behaved in a more prosocial fashion.” The article summarized his findings this way: “Awestruck people were more generous, more dialed into the needs of others, and more caring toward the natural world.”
In another study, Arizona State behavioral scientist Michelle Lani Shiota found that awe “increases generous decision-making.”
A hunger for the extraordinary
The article noted that we were made for wonder, we crave it. Why else would millions of people visit Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite each year?
But wonder doesn’t have to be a once-a-year vacation sort of experience. Wonder is all around us, if we will just slow down long enough to notice.
Just consider the night sky.
“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” – Isaiah 40:26Or God’s heart toward us.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” – 1 John 3:1Or generosity, and Who provides the resources.
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” – 1 Chronicles 29:14
There are many habits we can cultivate in order to grow in our relationship with Christ and to live more other-centered lives. Prayer, time in God’s Word, worship, fellowship. But how much time do we spend in wonder?
The good news is we don’t have to wait for next year’s summer vacation. Wonder is all around us. We just have to be not so quick to move on.
