Fear and Wonder

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. ~Psalm 139~

The biblical psalmist says that humans are "fearfully and wonderfully made." It's a phrase that seems to adequately capture the paradoxes of humanity we see in the world today, as well as human history.

• We live in a world of wealth and plenty while poverty and scarcity abound. 
• We see imagination, skill, tenacity, and bravery rescue a soccer team and their coach from a flooded cave, while lack of imagination, cruelty, prejudice, greed, and cowardice keep hundreds of children imprisoned because they and their parents seek freedom. 
• No telling how much money and resources went into fireworks displays around our country last week while much of Peurto Rico remains without power from a storm nearly a year ago. 
• We buy meals at drive through windows, some of which equal an hour's wage of the person serving the food. 
• We can send rovers to Mars, but can't seem to figure out adequate housing and health care for all people. 

The list goes on.

We have the capacity to marvel and terrify, create and destroy, love and hate. Most importantly we have the capacity to choose between fear and wonder.