Caught up in beauty and goodness

I recently saw the movie "The Giver," and I was blown away. I read the book when I was in elementary school, and hadn't remembered much about it, except that it was really good.

The movie version didn't disappoint, either; it is one of those rare movies that makes me grateful to be human and reawakens me to all of the beauty in this world. The movie has soul, and it touched mine.

The part that most struck me was the wonder and awe so prevalent throughout. The story's main characters are born to the goodness of life, to the richness of things as simple as color, music, emotion and love. The wonder and awe they show toward each new experience reminds me of the little children we are called to be in the faith, to live with eyes of delight and hearts of simplicity, allowing ourselves to trust and be amazed.

I have been so busy lately that I've been forgetting to take time to wonder at the world around me. I've been forgetting that our God is a God of delight, surprises and goodness, of sweetness and tenderness, a God to be wondered at, to live in awe of. I've forgotten to let my heart be awestruck by small things, which are the things in life that really matter.

This week I'm moving to Greece for the year. I'm not really sure what I'm doing or how anything will go, or if this is even what I'm "supposed" to be doing -- if such a thing as that exists.

The door is open, though, and I am walking through it, trusting Jesus is walking with me. I'm looking forward to knowing God in new ways, to finding that he is already in Greece. I am looking forward to being simple like a little child who doesn't understand everything -- or anything -- who is open to being wonderstruck, amazed by the simple things, reborn to love.

I want to let my heart be caught up in beauty beyond words, in goodness that captures my heart and lifts my soul to God. I want to see the world with fresh eyes and an open heart. I want to fully engage my emotions to better know and experience my God who gave me these gifts for this purpose.

Let's be sure to spend a few moments each day wondering at the beauty of creation around and in us and at how good it is to be human, praising our Creator for the depth of his love, goodness and imagination. It is a beautiful world we live in -- let's be sure not to miss it.

Mia Pohlman is a Perryville, Missouri, native and graduate of Truman State University with a bachelor's degree in English. She now lives in Athens, Greece, where as a Fulbright fellow she teaches English.