Amazement

One of my favorite opportunities in life is to explore the world with my nephews. Maverick, who is almost two, is in a state of life where many things are truly amazing. He also has this “amazed” expression nailed right now and it’s hard to top seeing him explore something new.

Being in an amazed state of life is not supposed to be an option reserved for two year olds.  Amazement comes fairly easy to them because so much they encounter is new.  The default for most toddlers is, “Whoa!” but, as we age, our world becomes more familiar and it is easier to notice what is wrong or lacking.

“A Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me some water to drink.” The Samaritan woman asked, “Why do you, a Jewish man, ask for something to drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (Jews and Samaritans didn’t associate with each other.) Jesus responded, “If you recognized God’s gift and who is saying to you, ‘Give me some water to drink,’ you would be asking him and he would give you living water.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4:7, 9-10‬ ‭CEB‬‬

When Jesus encounters this woman at the well she is surprised that He would interact with her at all.  She was a Samaritan, and culturally, a Jewish man would have nothing to do with her.  As they talk we discover that even to most Samaritans she had little value.  Jesus approached this woman focusing solely on what made her amazing—the greatness God created within her—and not on any perceived shortcomings.  

We all need amazement and our world is full of opportunities.  Unfortunately, it is way too easy to notice what is wrong or lacking.  Being amazed is a challenge.  Amazement is found when we approach life with a renewed, fresh perspective.  Try looking at the world around you like someone who is just experiencing it for the first time.  God is saying, “Look at this! I made this for you.”  Follow His example and recognize God’s gift.  Through every encounter, each situation, you have a choice…choose amazement!  

“Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭CEB‬‬