do the rangers at the grand canyon ever get bored of seeing the same old hole in the ground every day? does the 277 (river)mile long, ranging from 600 feet to 18 mile across, 1 mile deep (average) crevice ever seem mundane? can you wake up in the morning, drive to work at the visitor’s center, guide tours up and down the rim, down into the canyon, and just see it as the same old hole in the ground that you were in yesterday? can you get tired of it?

unfortunately, i’m sure you can. we are really good at finding the fantastic to be ‘interesting.’ things that should amaze us, no matter how many times we witness them, leave us saying ‘meh, it’s alright.’

so, when we see the pharisees and other critics of Jesus asking for more miracles, just to prove that He can do them, we see people with hard, cynical hearts who see the wonderful as commonplace. they are more entranced with their own mental capabilities than with things that are actually wonderful. when we get so used to things that should entrance us, it is definitely time to re-evaluate what’s going on inside of our hearts and heads.

what can we do to regain our sense of wonder? can it be brought back?

i think it can. but it means giving something up…

i like to know all the details about a project or situation before either carrying it out, or giving my approval. i don’t want something to come up short, and then take the blame for something that should have been/could have been preventable. getting taken out by something that would have involved a few extra minutes of work seems ridiculous to me.

but in order to have a real and lasting faith, i must give up my perceived need to for control and knowledge. if i am going to find wonder in life again, i must hand over the reins to God, let Him run things, and trust that what He has in store for me is going to be better than any ‘to-do’ list i can crank out for myself.

he friends of the paralytic man (the ones who dug through the roof) had the right idea about wonder and trust. here’s a quick overview of the events of the story.

#1. the guy had a problem (couldn’t walk, we don’t know why)

#2. his friends cared about him (they desired wholeness for his life)

#3. his friends took action (because they actually cared about him)

#4. his friends brought him to Jesus (they knew that wholeness couldn’t come from them)

#5. his friends stood back once the guy met Jesus (actually, they stood up on the rooftop)

#6. Jesus did all the work, both inside & out (Jesus did all the work once the man was there before Him)

#7. the guy was able to walk back out into the world (having been prepared to do so by Jesus)

#8. he rejoined His friends (and they shared in his joy)

#9. he had a new life to live out

steps number 5 & 6 were very important in this story. the friends did the prep work, they cared and made the effort to get this guy to a place where he could meet Jesus. once he was there, they let Jesus do the rest.

and that’s what we have to do today. we who have been in the church for a long time tend to forget that Jesus needs to be the One who does the work in the person’s life. we have become dulled to the wonder of His work in our hearts because it has, very sadly, become commonplace to us. we need to place more trust in Jesus, and what He does to us and in us, rather than on what our perceived part and efforts are in getting people to Him.

Father, please help us to let go. please help us to understand each day, and be refreshed in the wonder of You. help me to let go of myself, and to trust in You. help me to step back and let You bring wholeness.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Spirit, have mercy.

amen.