The Wow Factor

(Psalms 8:3-4 KJV) When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 

There is nothing that can bring a “Wow” to a country boy’s mouth quicker than reading this scripture. When considering the heavens (or the heaven of heavens) it is almost an overload to one’s imagination.

The Word of God has always been breathtaking to me, but when I read a passage such as our text I not only feel as if I am losing my breath, but I also feel extremely small. The thought of God creating all of this with the “work of His fingers” is overwhelming enough, but to think that He is also mindful of me makes it even more mind-boggling.

I was talking to a friend today who was just beginning to realize how much the Lord loved him. After stumbling around for a while, but failing at finding the right words to explain his new discovery of God’s love…I thought I would give it a try. However, it did not take long before I too felt inadequate in describing God’s love—so both of us ended up just sitting there repeating the word “Wow.”

Over the years I learned that God has many marvelous things that will easily engage one’s “Wow factor.” I have always had the gift of appreciation and therefore I usually appreciate things on a little deeper level than most folks.

Recently, while visiting Alaska I seemed to be in a perpetual state of “Wow.” I realize of course, that the things that “Wow” me may not necessarily “Wow” someone else. However, if one has any “Wows” in them at all they are bound to come out the minute they cast their eyes on the pearl of America…Alaska.

One day I was privileged to go on a sightseeing trip to a place called Portage, Alaska. It was there that I saw the remains of a once huge glacier that has been slowly melting away. The remaining ice from this glacier is thousands of years old and is a beautiful blue color.

We spent some time “Wowing” over the glacier. Later, as we were slowly driving through the park, all of a sudden a huge black bear darted across the road in front of us. The bear was within fifteen feet of the car, and of course that started the “Wows” all over again.

As we drove out of the park and onto the highway my thoughts were still on that magnificent “four hundred and fifty pounds of solid mean” called a bear that shot across the road in front of us. I thought to myself, “What a contrast.” I had just seen a growing bear that was a few years old and a dying glacier that was thousands of years old.

Only minutes after leaving the park we were again captivated by a mountain goat comfortably walking on the side of a cleft...on what seems to be barely enough space to stand. He looked as if he was walking on thin air while picking a few morsels of grass from between the rocks. After taking a couple of pictures of the goat someone also noticed two eagles circling the clefts above.

My trip to Alaska was one filled with “awe” and “Wows” and will forever be stored in my memory bank. However, the “Wows” that I felt there are minuscule compared to the “Wows” that one can feel when seeing the handiwork of the Lord such as in our text. Wow!!!

Father,

Our mind is incapable of thinking in terms of our text and all the wonderful things that You have prepared for us. We thank You Lord for allowing us to daily walk in the miracles of life. Wow!

Amen