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March 12, 2015

Today is one of those days where I am pondering.  Whether it is Lent, my theme of “Paying Attention,”  or the daily Haikus I have been writing, based on a different word for a different day, I have been pondering.

As some of you know, perhaps many by this time, I also perform sleight of hand magic.  I am what they would call, “an amateur magician.”  I like that, because not only is it fun, but it helps bring joy to people’s world.  And, I believe, that really is what life is about many times:  Helping others see the joy and wonder in the world.

I write this because as I was pondering, and exploring my hobby of magic, I came across a back issue of a magic magazine called, “Genii.”  In this edition, a man by the name of Jamie D. Grant was interviewed.  It was reading his interview, and re-reading parts about his life, I was reminded about what helped me get this blog out of my dreams and into the web (throw back to a Billy Ocean song).

Jamie D. Grant creates wonder.  He has created a whole campaign called, “Send Wonder,” and it truly is an amazing thing.

Honestly, what gave me the courage, or the push, to make the step into trying something new, something that could have fallen flat, was Jamie D. Grant’s “Anything is Possible” bottles.  These are amazing piece of art, wonder and strange.

I have had a bottle like this in the past, made by Jamie D. Grant, and it was this very creation that pushed me to look at doing something that had lived in the back of my mind for a while.  It was the idea that spurred the creation of the Dollar Store Children Sermon blog.

Through out my time, and experiences, I have lost that bottle.  It is in this new season of life that I hope to regain one.  They are truly a piece of art, astonishment, and wonder.

Jamie D. Grant has given a great TED talk about Sending Wonder, and can be found here:

Thank you, Jamie, for your inspiration, and most of all, your kindness.

Living in God’s Grace,

John W. Stevens, pastor
Zion Lutheran 720 Jefferson Street
Oregon City, Oregon 97045