For much of his professional career, my brother, Randy, was employed by Unidynamics in Conroe. Unidynamics was, among other things, a sub-contractor for the Navy and also the oil industry. They designed, manufactured and serviced such products as helicopter hanger doors for Navy destroyers and elevators for oil rigs.
One of Randy’s co-workers was a man by the name of Barton Yates, who had more seniority than any other employee. At the end of the long workday, when the men and women were exhausted, and just before they would go to the wash rooms to clean up for the drive home, Barton would come out on the floor, and with a booming, inspiring voice declare: “It’s a wondrous thing we’ve done here today!”
I like to think that his fellow workers were uplifted by such words. That their hours of exacting toil, considered by most as manual, unappreciated labor, were somehow redeemed and rewarded by his declaration: “It’s a wondrous thing we’ve done here today!”
The Gospels witness to the wondrous acts Jesus performed: restoring sight to the blind, restoring outcasts to society, feeding 5,000 hungry mouths with five loaves and two fish, stilling a storm at sea, raising the dead— more wondrous things than the books of the world could tell. One of the astounding promises of Jesus is found in John 14: “The one who believes in me . . . will do greater works than these.” Jesus is saying, “My followers will do wondrous things!” I do believe the nameless deeds of love and sacrificial service we do for others in Christ’s name are significant beyond our comprehension. When we affirm the power and importance of even our smallest acts of kindness for God’s sake, we may say, as the sun goes down, “It’s a wondrous thing we’ve done here today!”
Encouraging others along life’s way is a wondrous thing. First Samuel tells how Jonathan encouraged David. David learned that King Saul had come out to seek his life. Saul’s son Jonathan set out and came to David at Horesh; “There he strengthened his hand in the Lord.” Had Jonathan not reminded David of God’s love, omnipotence, caring and providence, who knows whether David would have pursued his calling under God to lead his men and rule Israel. Strengthening David’s hand in the Lord was a wondrous thing.
Daily prayer is a wondrous thing. This is what Tennyson meant when he wrote: “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” Who knows what needs go unanswered, who knows what strength is not given, who knows what darkness is not lightened, when we fail to engage in the wondrous act of prayer. Who can you pray for? The list is endless: family, leaders of your church, Rockdale’s teachers, neighbors, the neighbor’s children, first responders, those who travel, the nation’s leaders, Randy.
Also, a deed of kindness, even the smallest deed of kindness, can be a wondrous thing. Kindness is one of the greatest gifts God has given humankind. It engenders hope. It spawns mercy and forgiveness. It sings a hymn into the tumult. It bestows strength upon the weary. Kindness is no mere sentiment, nor a vapor that disappears with the heat of day. Kindness is a wondrous thing.
Albert Einstein once said: “There are only two ways to live your life: as though nothing is a miracle, or as though everything is a miracle.” Encouragement, prayer, kindness—these are miracles. Live them; share them, be them! Then, as the sun sets this evening, you will be able to declare, “It’s a wondrous thing we’ve done here today!”
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