In 1920, a man by the name of Charles Hermann built a ferris wheel. This ferris wheel however, was not like any other ferris wheel built before it. This one stood out because of its original design. Only one-third of its 24 cars were stationary, whereas the other cars moved up and down on tracks within the wheel itself allowing the riders to take in the full beauty surrounding Coney Island in all directions. This ride was the main attraction for years on end because of its unique design and its safety, we all know how carnival rides are known for their safety, but this one never had incidents. Its popularity never waned through all the years of it running. Hermann would name this ride the Wonder Wheel.
Wonder: a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable; a miracle.
The bible uses the word wonder when speaking of God and his works or his miracles. It also talks of us when we look to God in awe and wonder. Just as the Wonder Wheel allows for riders to move and see something new and spectacular when they ride, we too have the honor of seeing God in all of his beauty if we seek him. You see the Wonder Wheel sat at a point in Coney Island that if you rode you would be able to see in all directions, all the beauty that surrounded the island and all that it beheld. God wishes for us to know him in that same way. He wishes for us to see all of who he is. To witness his signs and miracles. To see what only he can do. To be a living testament to his works. If we want, that is what he has for us.
How do we do this? We should be in a constant state of moving toward God. Of moving this way and that in order to see more of him. In order to do this, first, we must pursue him in daily prayer. Having daily conversation with the one true God will open our eyes to what he can do and who he is. We will grow closer, see more of him. The second way of seeing God in awe and wonder is to be in the Word. Reading the bible gives us all the accounts of God and his miraculous works, who he changed, who he called, his walk on this earth as Jesus, and anything else there is to know about him. If we were to look to the bible, we would find that everyone who knew God, did these things to get there. It seems simple but these are the steps in which we begin our constant movement toward God. To see God at every vantage point we must be willing to move.
There's a story of a woman in the bible who moved. She chased, she crawled. She reached. And she got to him. You see, this woman had been full of disease all of her life. A blood disorder. She had carried this disease with her everywhere she went for twelve years. Nothing changed her situation until she decided to move, to get a new vantage point, to place herself in the same air as the miracle worker. She pushed through the crowd, crawling on the floor as Jesus, her world changer, walked. And then she reached. She touched his robe. It was then that she got her awe and wonder moment. She was made whole, free of all disease and sickness. God says to her in Luke 8:48, "daughter, your faith has made you whole, go in peace." Just like that, she got to live a new life free of pain and suffering. All because she chose to move.
If you look at your life today and you are wanting more…more surprise, more intrigue, more miracles. Something unexpected, beautiful. Get closer to God. Pursue him. Move for him and he will do the same for you. And if you're curious, yes, the Wonder Wheel is still running today in 2020.
He gives us Roots so we can Fly. Roots and Wings.
