Today's Quotation:

People go forth to wonder at the height of mountains, the huge waves
of the sea, the broad flow of the rivers, the extent of the ocean,
the course of the stars -- and forget to wonder at themselves.

St. Augustine

Today's Meditation:

There are so many incredible things in the world that deserve our wonder and amazement that we could travel our entire lives and still never see all there is to see.  But seeing may be part of the problem.  Our eyes are positioned in such a way that they naturally look outward rather than inward, which gives us a tendency to see much more of what's around us.  Yes, we can look at our own bodies, but don't we do so more as an observer rather than as the person who's living in that body?

We are spectacular creatures.  We have amazing bodies, amazing minds, and amazing spirits, yet we tend not to treat ourselves that way.  The amazing things are outside of ourselves, we think, and we don't give ourselves the credit we deserve for our own wonderful nature.  In doing so, we sell ourselves short and learn to think of ourselves as truly less than we are.

If the science of our bodies and brains weren't enough to marvel at, how about the intricate ways that our spirit interacts with this body?  How about the ways that we can feel love and compassion, and the great effects that we can have on the lives of other human beings?  The ways we taste, feel, dream, sing, cry, share, create, learn and grow all are marvelous parts of who we are--parts that we don't value nearly enough.

Yes, we should wonder at the heights of the mountains.  But we also should wonder at the height and breadth of our spirits, our selves.  We are wonderful creatures, and we deserve to be recognized as such and treated as such.

Questions to ponder:

1.  Have you ever stopped to wonder at how marvelous you truly are?

2.  Is it arrogance to put ourselves on a similar level as mountain ranges?

3.  Why don't we tend to see ourselves as something
deserving of awe and wonder?

You are a child of the universe, “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
In the history of creation, there has never been anyone like you.
Accept this reality about yourself—that you are a special, unique
human being who has a place on this earth that no one else can fill.  Acknowledge yourself as a glorious expression of your loving Creator.
This healthy self-love will form the foundation of a joyful and
satisfying life.  Then, as you love and accept yourself, your inner
light will shine outward to bless and heal your fellow human beings.

Douglas Bloch