Wonder Along the Road

Wonder (n): surprise mingled with admiration.

WONDER. When we open our eyes, it’s there. It’s there in the delight of curiosity and learning. Wonder is ever present in the mysteries of revelation, beauty, and creativity. It revels in service, humility and joy. Wonder reveals the possibility of encountering greatness and the sacred. It whispers of eternity. It insists on a love greater than we can imagine and invites us to collaborate in loving God, neighbor, self, and even our enemy. Wonder strengthens faith, reason, justice and ultimately fosters transformation. Wonder tells us that there is more to this universe than just a mindless, loveless physical substance. Wonder tells the story of faith.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”
 – Hebrews 11:1-3

Centuries ago, Charles Wesley composed these wonderful lines: “Changes from glory into glory, Till in Heav’n we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love and praise.” 

What a beautiful image of being wrapped in wonder, love, and praise. As we continue our “Road Trips of the Bible” sermon series, my hope is to convey the possibilities of wonder of this unusual metaphor during our strange and difficult times of pandemic. Becoming creatures of this new socially distanced reality is in some ways similar to when Jesus purposefully scattered out his followers. They were sent out on the road for an unexpected journey, traveling alone. In bible times, roads were often not safe places to be. They were desolate, wilderness-like regions where bandits lied in wait for travelers. But remember, a road always has a direction: between our old life and the possibility of a new one. 

The more we dive into the sacred text, the more we see how these road trips are taking people into situations of great uncertainty, much like we are experiencing now. 
Although their destinations were clear, their immediate futures were not. Yet along the way they encountered something unexpected, something filled with potential, something wonderful: the astounding existence of a living, holy God. What could be more wonderful than that? 

Join us as we get (as Willie Nelson famously sings) On the Road Again!

On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again.

On the road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been
Seein’ things that I may never see again
And I can’t wait to get on the road again.

Pastor Tim