Last week, we enjoyed the Montreat Senior High Youth Conference. The theme for the week was Wonder and Wander. As the theme of the week unfolded before us, we explored the idea that God calls us to wonder and to wander. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to share a few of my thoughts on wondering while we wander. I remember once, when I was with my adult son on a Boy Scouts trip to the Rockies in Colorado, we had the chance to go white-water rafting on the Colorado River. As is usual on every rafting trip I have been on, our raft flipped over. I never enjoy the sensation of being submerged in a raging river under a raft. To make matters worse, as the raft was flipping over, my foot became caught in the seat in front of me, and then twisted my knee as I was flung out of the raft. The sharp pain was immediate. Two days later, we began a ten-mile hike I had looked forward to. I was determined to push through my pain and enjoy the majesty of the Rockies. However, my pace had to be very slow, because my knee was still hurting, and the slightest misstep was painful. So, along I went slowly, well behind the rest of the group. I was disappointed that I could not keep up with the conversations and high jinks of young scouts, but what I discovered in my lagging was a unique opportunity to notice the unnoticeable. My slow pace allowed me to distance myself from the noise of young hearts and minds, but it offered me the opportunity to listen to a different voice, a quiet voice, God’s voice. As I slowly walked along, I noticed majestic mountain profiles, but I also noticed small, insignificant revelations: flowers breaking through the snow and ice. Each little flower looked so isolated, yet it was alive, pushing toward the sunlight and bringing beauty and wonder to all who took the time to notice. I was fortunate that day because all those eager hikers ahead of me did not see what I saw, a crocus pushing through the snow and ice. I still remember this tiny purple- and- yellow flower peeking through the ice, announcing, “I am here”. It made me wonder how often God may speak to us in the still, small voice God so often uses, which we may miss due to our manufactured, busy lifestyles. I wonder if we get too busy to also hear God say to each of us, I am here.” Perhaps today is a good day to notice the little things around us that God desires us to see, and maybe, in seeing the majesty and the miracle of each new day, we are able to hear God’s voice speaking into our hearts anew and afresh, saying, “I am here”

 

Written by: David Smithey   (6/2026)