Finding Joy in the Modern Chaos: The Redemptive Power of Robert W. Service’s “Wonder”
In an age of relentless optimization and digital noise, have we forgotten the simple, soul-saving magic of being truly amazed?
Wonder
Robert W. Service
For failure I was well equipped And should have come to grief, By atavism grimly gripped, A fool beyond belief. But lo! the Lord was good to me, And with a heart to sing, He gave me to a rare degree The Gift of Wondering.
I could not play a stalwart part My shoddy soul to save, And should have gone with broken heart A begger to the grave; But praise to my anointed sight As wandering I went, I sang of living with delight In terms of Wonderment.
Aye, starry-eyed did I rejoice With marvel of a child, And there were those who heard my voice Although my words were wild: So as I go my wistful way, With worship let me sing, A treasure to my farewell day God’s Gift of Wondering.
I recently revisited Robert W. Service’s “Wonder.” It’s such a sophisticated reminder that even when we feel ill-equipped for the “stalwart parts” society demands of us, there is a profound grace in remaining starry-eyed.
In our contemporary world—where we are often gripped by the “grim atavism” of competition and cynicism—Service suggests a radical alternative: Wonderment. He speaks of a “shoddy soul” saved not by achievement, but by the “anointed sight” of a child. It’s a beautiful thought, isn’t it? That our most valuable “treasure” isn’t our productivity, but our ability to marvel at the wildness of life. Even when the world feels heavy, choosing to sing with delight transforms our path from a struggle into a “wistful way.” It’s a gentle nudge to let our curiosity be our greatest strength.
As you read this poem, ask yourself:
In the rush of my daily routine, what “wild words” or small marvels am I overlooking that could transform my “shoddy” moments into worship?
