"Wonder is the basis of worship"
About this Quote
Human beings have always grappled with the mysteries of existence. From the vastness of the universe to the complexity of the smallest living organisms, there is an innate yearning to understand, to probe deeper, and to seek meaning beyond the apparent. Wonder is the emotional spark that arises when we encounter something far greater, more intricate, or more beautiful than ourselves; it is that sudden pause before the unknown, where curiosity and humility mingle.
Out of wonder springs reverence, a kind of respectful awe. When individuals are overtaken by the marvels of nature, the enormity of time, or the intricacies of life, their hearts incline toward something higher. This feeling, profound and encompassing, transcends mundane experience. It nudges humanity to reach beyond the self, to stand in admiration, and ultimately to worship whatever force, principle, or presence seems responsible for such grandeur.
Worship, in this sense, need not be confined to formal religious practice. It is the deep acknowledgment of value and mystery, an attitude of gratitude and surrender before that which cannot be fully grasped. The act of worship, whether toward a deity, nature, or life itself, begins when a person admits the limits of their understanding and bows, figuratively or literally, before the incomprehensible. The basis of this gesture is the original experience of wonder: a mind stunned by beauty, the heart flooded with awe, a sense of belonging to a world far bigger than oneself.
Therefore, the impulse to venerate, to approach life with sanctity and respect, does not arise from habit or doctrine alone. It finds its roots in the existential astonishment that life evokes. Whenever people lose touch with wonder, worship becomes hollow routine. But as long as the sense of wonder is alive, worship remains a genuine response to the miracle of being.
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