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Glimpses of Wonder™: Reflections on Jehovah’s Remarkable Design

An invitation to slow down, look closer, and be amazed.

 

Everywhere we turn, Jehovah’s handiwork speaks—sometimes in whispers, sometimes in wide-eyed wonder. Glimpses of Wonder™ takes you on a journey through the marvels of creation: from the clever mechanics of a horse’s leg to the glow of deep-sea creatures, from the balance of brain chemistry to the elegance of a falling leaf.

 

Some entries will make you laugh. Some will make you pause. But all of them aim for the same thing: to stir up awe—and give credit where it’s due.

 

Blending science, storytelling, and a deep love for the Creator, this series doesn’t just celebrate the natural world. It invites you to see what’s always been there… a little differently.

Entries in this blog

Biology & Body Systems

​​​​​​​“Your Epidermis Is Showing” — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

When we were kids, we had a little trick — the kind of thing only siblings or sneaky friends would try. We’d lean in close and whisper, “Your epidermis is showing.” That fancy-sounding word usually triggered mild panic. Hands would fly to zippers. Shirt fronts were tugged. Once, someone even turned around in a circle. But the truth was: their skin was showing. Of course it was — everyone’s is. But the word made it sound scandalous.   Turns out, there’s an even bigger word hiding beneat
dljbsp

dljbsp in Biology & Body Systems

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Spiritual Focus and Growth

Eyes That Stay Focused — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

Owls have three eyelids.   That’s not an exaggeration or a poetic flourish — it’s biology. One upper, one lower, and one that slides sideways across the eye like a windshield wiper. That third one, called the nictitating membrane, is nearly transparent. It protects the eye, keeps it clean, and does all this without interrupting the owl’s vision.   So even when it blinks — it doesn’t lose focus.   That might be the most impressive part of an already remarkable hunter
dljbsp

dljbsp in Spiritual Focus and Growth

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Tiny Teachers — Creatures with Big Lessons

The Stain That Came After — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

The first thing you notice is the speckled mess across your windshield. Not bird droppings. Not pollen. It’s worse — splattered lovebugs, baked in by the sun. Their fragile bodies hit like a whisper but dry like epoxy. Wait too long, and you’ll need more than elbow grease. You’ll need new paint.     Most people associate the lovebug with Florida. But it’s not just Florida — these insects swarm across the southeastern United States, including Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and
Jehovah’s Design in Nature

The Color of Capability — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

Some animals dazzle with stripes, feathers, or antlers. But one of the most quietly powerful creatures in the forest flashes a streak of burnt orange — right across its front teeth.   At first glance, you might assume the beaver just has bad dental hygiene. But that deep orange shine isn’t from plaque or pigment. It’s the result of a natural glaze — a microscopically thin surface layer rich in minerals and aromatic compounds. More than decoration, it’s protection. That layer shields th
Earthly Riches, Eternal Truths

What’s It Really Worth? — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

A single Yubari melon usually sells for somewhere between $50 and $100 — already a high price for fruit. But in 2019, a matched pair of top-grade melons sold at auction for nearly $45,000. What kind of melon could possibly be worth that much?   Well, it turns out this isn’t your average fruit stand find. These melons are grown in Yubari, a small town on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. The region’s volcanic soil, carefully controlled greenhouses, and cool climate are ideal for cult
Systems of Wonder

The Oldest “Known” Seed Ever Sprouted — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

A tiny seed, no bigger than a grain of rice, slept beneath the frozen banks of a Siberian river. It had been buried there for thousands of years — possibly tens of thousands — tucked into the ancient burrow of a ground squirrel. The squirrel never returned. But the seed endured.   It remained in that frozen chamber, perfectly preserved, longer than any human civilization has lasted. It survived mammoths, ice sheets, and the rise and fall of entire cultures. Then, in 2012, scientists at
Fulfilled Prophecy

A Stone Witness to Prophecy Fulfilled — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

Inspired by w18 No. 2    Tourists walk under it every day. They snap photos, eat gelato, and check maps while standing in the shadow of an ancient arch. Some hardly glance up. But there it stands—weathered, cracked, and almost indifferent to time. The Arch of Titus, built nearly 2,000 years ago, has seen empires fall and rise again. Yet it remains… quietly honest.   The marble relief inside tells a story: Roman soldiers in motion, carrying off sacred objects—a golden lampstan
Systems of Wonder

“Only Using 10%?” — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

I had always heard the claim that we only use 10% of our brains. It was said so often that I never questioned it. It sounded believable. After all, it often feels like more of my mind is offline than on — especially when I walk into a room and forget why I’m there.   But as it turns out, that familiar statistic has no basis in fact. Brain scans show that nearly all areas of the brain stay active — even at rest. We’re not underusing the brain. We’re using it the way it was designed: wit
Perspective

The Wind Blew — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

Inspired by a riddle @Tortuga shared. July 7, 2016   The wind blew. Not a storm, not a gale — just one of those sudden, cheeky gusts that slips through the house when a door swings wide.   The frame on the shelf wobbled. A photo of a little girl, maybe five or six, holding up a fishbowl with both hands and a grin you could hear.   The frame fell.   The glass bowl shattered.   And Mary — Mary was the goldfish.   She didn’t
Animal Wonders

When Horses Lie Down — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

There’s something quiet and reverent about it — when a horse finally lies down.   Most of the time, they sleep on their feet. They can — by design. Jehovah gave them a built-in system called the stay apparatus — tendons and ligaments that brace their legs so they can rest without falling. That’s useful when you’re a prey animal. Grazing in the open. Light sleep, head high, muscles ready to flee.   But for real sleep — the kind that brings dreams — the horse has to lie do
Glimpses of the Eye

Extreme Peripheral Vision — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — 4 of 4 —

You’re walking in the woods when something moves just off to the side. You didn’t *look* at it—yet somehow, you *saw* it. That’s peripheral vision.   The human eye has a surprisingly wide visual field—nearly 180 degrees in total. While central vision is sharp and detailed, the periphery is tuned for motion and contrast. Specialized rod cells dominate this region, making it easier to detect movement, especially in dim light.   But seeing motion in the periphery isn’t just abou
Everyday Wonders

The Hidden Root Behind the Bloom — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

It’s easy to admire a dahlia from the top down.   Stand in any late-summer garden and they’ll stop you in your tracks — a riot of color, shape, and surprise. Some look like firecrackers in full explosion. Others, delicate tea saucers arranged by a very fussy bee. Petals fold in layers or spike out wildly, as if the flower just couldn’t decide what mood it was in when it bloomed. Ivory, peach, blood orange, deep violet, even nearly black — all glowing like stained glass under sunlight.
Glimpses of the Eye

Rapid and Complex Eye Muscle Control — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — 3 of 4 —

Your eyes move faster than any other muscle group in your body. Each shift in gaze—called a saccade—lasts only milliseconds. Yet in that time, six tiny muscles surrounding each eyeball contract in complex coordination to point both eyes at the same target.   That’s not easy. These muscles aren’t just moving in one direction; they’re balancing rotational force, managing speed, and compensating for the slightest head movement. Your brain performs calculations in real time—adjusting even
Everyday Wonders

“A Time for Bananas” — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

It starts green. You can try to eat it then, of course. Teeth squeak. Flavor’s not quite there. Feels like chewing a plantain with something to prove.   But wait a few days, and the banana changes. The skin softens. A little sweetness creeps in. Those freckles start to show — first one or two, then a whole constellation. And just like that, it’s ready.   According to modern health science, that shift matters more than taste. A ripe banana — mellow, yellow, and halfway slouchi
Glimpses of the Eye

Corneal Fluid Pump — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — 2 of 4 —

The cornea has no blood vessels. If it did, your vision would be permanently cloudy. But how, then, does it stay alive?   The answer is a fluid pump—built right into the cornea itself. Tiny endothelial cells along the back surface of the cornea form a living pump system that constantly moves water out of the stroma, the thick middle layer. Without this action, fluid would accumulate, scattering light and turning your clear window milky.   It’s not just a matter of staying dry
Wonders Within

Swallowed by Design — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

You may want to sit down for this one.   The average human produces about 1.5 quarts — or 1.4 liters — of mucus every single day. That’s enough to fill a large soda bottle. And here’s the kicker: you swallow most of it.   Yep. That drip from your nose? That tickle in your throat? It doesn’t just disappear. It’s working overtime — and then taking the express train down your esophagus.   But mucus isn’t just some gooey nuisance. It’s one of the body’s most underapprec
Glimpses of the Eye

Extreme Light Adaptation — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — 1 of 4 —

You’re outside in the sun when someone calls your name from inside a dark garage. You step in—and for a moment, it’s like you’ve gone blind. But within seconds, the outlines return. A minute later, you can see almost everything. How?   Light adaptation is just one reason the human eye stirs awe. In bright light, specialized cells in the retina adjust sensitivity by rapidly changing their response levels. Step into the dark, and other cells—the rods—gradually take over, boosting their s
Celestial Design

Out Where the Shield Grows Thin — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

Out Where the Shield Grows Thin — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —   In 1977, two small spacecraft — Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 — were launched toward the edge of everything. They were never meant to last this long, nor to travel this far. Yet here they are, over 46 years later, still whispering faint signals back across billions of miles. They’ve left the planets far behind. They’ve passed through the invisible boundary that marks the outer limit of our sun’s reach. And now, they’re out
Ocean Creatures

“The ‘Wonder’ Is What’s Under the Blanket” — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ —

Some say the blanket octopus is different from other octopuses because it has eleven arms instead of the usual eight. That’s not true — but honestly, if it did, that might be one of the least surprising things about it.   Because the real differences? They’re far more astonishing than a couple of bonus limbs.   Let’s start with what the blanket octopus does share with its relatives — the octopus family is already full of mind-bending wonders. Like others in its group, it has
The Creeping Things of the Earth

Why Not Eat Insects? — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™— 4 of 4 —

Some things are hard to unsee. Like the time a friend cracked open a protein bar and saw the word “cricket” on the label. He blinked. Read it again. Then quietly folded the wrapper back over and set it on the table like it was radioactive.   “You going to eat that?” I asked. He shook his head. “You?” “…maybe.”   There’s something about insects — even clean, cooked ones — that makes many people instinctively recoil. We know they’re edible. We just don’t want to.
The Creeping Things of the Earth

The Unsung Architects — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — — 3 of 4 —

There’s a reason a swarm of bees can cause panic — and it’s not just the stingers. It’s the sound. That synchronized buzz, like a warning that something is happening — fast, focused, and entirely beyond your control.   But step back. Watch longer.   You’ll notice a rhythm. A pattern. A purpose.   Bees don’t waste time — or space. Each one has a role, and together they build something astonishing: combs shaped with mathematical precision, hexagons that maximize stora
The Creeping Things of the Earth

Designed to Decompose — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — 2 of 4 —

You can smell it before you see it — that sour-sweet reminder that something has gone soft behind the fridge. Or maybe it’s the compost bin you forgot to empty. Either way, it’s not just gross… it’s active.   But if you step back — maybe plug your nose first — something beautiful is happening.   Decay doesn’t mean defeat. It’s actually the beginning of renewal.   All across creation, Jehovah designed small, tireless workers to carry out one of the most humbling jobs
The Creeping Things of the Earth

Bugs with Benefits — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — 1 of 4 —

They even follow us camping. The lantern goes out, you’re zipped up in your sleeping bag, just starting to relax — and then it comes. That inevitable buzz in your ear. You swat at the dark, grumble under your breath, and wonder how something that small can be that annoying. And in the morning? You find out they’ve been eating you. But we’ll get into that in a future entry.   Swatting, spraying, or stomping is often our default response. But maybe — just maybe — we’ve been overlooking s
From Earth to Moon and Back — with Eyes on the Creator

It’s a “Wonder” We Didn’t Know This Already — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — Epilogue

We built towers that touched the sky. Then rockets that left it behind. We conquered gravity, crossed the void, and sent human footprints into ancient dust. We reached for the stars — and grabbed hold of the moon.   And yet somehow, the greatest “wonder” wasn’t out there. It was here all along.   Maybe it just took leaving Earth for a little while to finally see it.   When the astronauts looked back — really looked back — they saw our planet with new
From Earth to Moon and Back — with Eyes on the Creator

It’s a “Wonder” Man Returned to Earth — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — 5 of 5

It’s one thing to go somewhere no one has gone before. It’s another thing entirely to come back from it.   When the astronauts of Apollo 11 lifted off from the moon, they weren’t celebrating yet. They had only left the surface. They were still a fragile craft orbiting a lifeless satellite, hoping that every component would hold together long enough to reunite with their command module pilot — and then steer home.   Home. That word carried more weight now.   After al

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