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Dark Wings, Bright Minds — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — They watch us more than we think. Crows belong to a larger family of birds called corvids—a group that includes ravens, rooks, jackdaws, magpies, and jays. Different shapes, different voices, different landscapes, different roles in their habitats…yet all sharing a surprising level of intelligence. Ravens solve puzzles that stump primates. Magpies recognize themselves in mirrors. Jays plan ahead and hide food based on who might be watching. Crows work through problems that change from day to day. Across the world, many cultures sensed there was something unusual about them, often viewing them as messengers or watchers because of the way they study everything around them. Researchers once put on a simple rubber mask and captured a few wild crows for tagging. Minutes later, every crow in the area was calling out a furious alarm—an unmistakable warning cry. Then something astonishing happened. Days passed. Months passed. Years passed. New crows appeared. But whenever someone returned wearing that same mask, the birds lifted their voices again. Even young crows that hadn’t been alive during the first capture reacted as if they personally remembered the danger. How? It wasn’t guessing. It wasn’t instinct alone. It was something learned. It was teaching. Older crows gathered their young and showed them the “danger face.” They tracked that person with sharp eyes, calling out the same alarm their parents once gave. The young learned not only the image but the meaning—this face brings trouble; stay away; warn the others. Studies show this shared memory can spread outward, moving through flocks that never witnessed the event. A single moment can become a community lesson, carried forward like a story retold until every bird knows it. And this is not unique to crows. Ravens do it. Jays do it. Magpies and rooks do it as well. Across the corvid family, information moves through generations with a clarity that resembles instruction. Their world isn’t only survival; it is awareness passed down. Parents training their young. Flocks learning from one another. A network of memory moving through the air like an invisible map. There is something profoundly beautiful about that. Crows don’t simply react; they remember. They don’t just warn; they guide. They don’t merely survive; they shape a culture of vigilance that protects birds they may never meet. Their lives become moving examples of how knowledge, once gained, can safeguard others far beyond the original moment. When we see intelligence woven so deeply into a creature’s world, it points upward. It reveals a Designer who wanted even these dark-feathered teachers to thrive. It shows a God who shaped a whole family of birds with memory strong enough to defend their communities. It highlights a God who plants wisdom in unexpected places, inviting us to notice his care. Scripture captures the truth behind that beauty: “Let them praise the name of Jehovah, For he commanded, and they were created.” Every crow, every raven, every magpie, every jay gliding against the sky quietly confirms those words. Their intelligence is intentional. Their design is generous. Their very existence is a form of testimony. And when we see how carefully Jehovah crafted even their minds, it deepens our praise for the One who formed ours with far greater purpose. Tags: crows, corvids, ravens, jays, animal intelligence, creation, Jehovah’s wisdom, awe

When Your Stomach Would Eat You Alive — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — Your stomach works in a place no one would willingly step into. The acid inside it can break down metal in controlled lab tests — the sort of strength that would ruin almost anything else in your body. Yet it doesn’t ruin you. It doesn’t eat through your own tissues. It doesn’t burn a hole straight through your life. Why? Because the lining on the inside of your stomach is replaced every few days. The old cells are sacrificed and swept away, and new ones rise from deep in the gastric glands to take their place. That cycle never stops. If it did, even for a short while, the acid would begin carving into the tissue beneath it. Ulcers form when that balance falters; healing returns only when the rhythm is restored. Renewal is the only reason survival is possible in such a harsh environment. And when you sit with that for a moment — that your own body quietly rebuilds itself right where the conditions are most hostile — something deeper comes into view. Jehovah didn’t design you to be fragile at every point. He safeguarded even the places you never think about. You sleep, eat, laugh, serve, and your stomach lining dies and rises again without you ever noticing. A small, constant act of care hidden in the dark, whispered into the fabric of your biology. It’s hard not to feel gratitude when you realize how many quiet mercies carry you through an ordinary day. Tags: physiology, design, renewal, gratitude.

When Beauty First Opened Her Eyes — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — Jehovah surveyed the living world on the sixth day, and the inspired record says something simple and steady: “God saw everything he had made, and look! it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) Animals were good because they were complete. Plants were good because they fulfilled their role. Trees were good because they supported life. Humans were good because they were made to live forever. We picture Eve through a modern lens — perfect features, flawless symmetry, polished beauty shaped by a thousand borrowed opinions. But none of that existed then. Before mirrors, before comparison, before insecurity, beauty opened her eyes in a world where only two beings saw her: Jehovah… and then Adam. Jehovah saw her first. A woman whole, spiritually clean, strong, balanced, unmarred by fear or distortion. He saw that she was good — not by cultural standard, but by divine assessment. Then Adam looked at her, and his reaction came from recognition, not imagination. “This is at last bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” (Genesis 2:23) She was matched to his eyes, his heart, his needs, and the life he was meant to share. But perhaps our strongest clue about beauty comes later in the Bible. When Job’s ordeal ended, the record gives a detail Jehovah wanted preserved: “In all the land no women were found as beautiful as Job’s daughters.” (Job 42:15) Their beauty wasn’t the world’s idea — it was beauty Jehovah himself acknowledged. A beauty shaped by dignity, purity, and spiritual clarity. That’s the beauty Jehovah values. That’s the beauty Adam saw. That’s the beauty a faithful spouse reflects. That’s the beauty that grows with loyalty to Him. Physical beauty fades. Preferences shift. Opinions rearrange themselves every generation. But spiritual beauty stays steady across every age. When Jehovah looks at a person, He does not measure features. He measures loyalty. Faith. Reverence. Devotion. Those are beautiful to Him. The kind of beauty that never breaks down. The kind of beauty that made Eve “good” in Jehovah’s eyes. The kind of beauty reflected in a spouse who loves Him. The kind of beauty that will endure into the new world. In the new world, beauty will finally make sense again. Not the kind shaped by culture, not the kind filtered through insecurity, but the kind that grows from a clean heart. Every person will stand healthy again. Every mind clear. Every body whole. Every soul steady in loyalty to Jehovah. And the beauty within — the loyalty, the faith, the devotion — will finally fill the outside too. The world will be full of men and women whose appearance matches their spirit: strong, balanced, joyful, and alive in the way Jehovah intended from the beginning. That’s the beauty that will rise again. That’s the beauty Jehovah has always seen. That’s the beauty the new world will be full of. And that — that is the real wonder. A Glimpse of "good" Creation

Crab Rangoon, with its golden, crispy wonton shell and creamy filling, is a beloved appetizer often found in American Chinese restaurants. Its name evokes images of exotic locales, particularly the Burmese city of Rangoon (now Yangon). But the truth behind this dish is far from its exotic-sounding name. Crab Rangoon’s story is rooted in mid-20th-century America, combining clever marketing, culinary creativity, and a touch of fiction. A Dish Born in Tiki Culture The tale of Crab Rangoon begins not in Asia but in the United States during the 1940s, a time when tiki culture swept across the nation. Victor Bergeron, founder of Trader Vic’s—a chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants—was the mastermind behind this dish. Bergeron was known for inventing dishes that matched the exotic flair of tiki culture, blending flavors and ideas from various cuisines. Crab Rangoon was no exception. Bergeron combined wonton wrappers, a filling of cream cheese and crab meat, and a deep fryer to create this savory, crowd-pleasing dish. Its name, “Rangoon,” was likely chosen to give the appetizer an exotic edge, even though it had no ties to Myanmar or traditional Asian cuisine. A Fusion of Cultures Crab Rangoon is a fusion dish in the truest sense. It marries the concept of wontons from Chinese cooking with the richness of cream cheese, a dairy product largely absent in East Asian cuisine. This blend of flavors and textures catered perfectly to American palates, which favored creamy, savory dishes with a crispy exterior. The result was an appetizer that quickly gained popularity and became a staple in American Chinese restaurants. Why the Name “Rangoon”? The choice of name was part of a broader marketing trend in mid-20th-century America, where dishes with foreign or exotic-sounding names were seen as alluring and sophisticated. While the name “Rangoon” adds an air of mystery, the dish itself is purely an American invention. This naming convention reflects the creativity and cleverness of chefs like Victor Bergeron, who knew how to capture public interest with their creations. Global Reach of an American Original Though Crab Rangoon originated in the United States, it has since spread worldwide. It appears on menus in countries like Malaysia, where chefs have embraced and adapted it with local flavors. The global appeal of Crab Rangoon reflects the influence of American Chinese cuisine and the versatility of this crispy, creamy dish. Why It Matters Crab Rangoon’s story is a reminder of how food can evolve and adapt, taking on new identities as it travels. What began as an American creation inspired by tiki culture has become a beloved appetizer enjoyed by people around the world. Its journey shows how creativity and cultural blending can lead to something truly special. A Reflection of Jehovah’s Generosity As we enjoy the flavors and textures of Crab Rangoon, we are reminded of Jehovah’s abundant generosity. Ecclesiastes 2:24 says, “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and find enjoyment in his hard work.” This dish, born of human creativity and culinary effort, reflects the joy that comes from exploring and combining the resources Jehovah has provided. Sources 1. Mashed: Insights into the history of Crab Rangoon 2. Mental Floss: Exploration of Crab Rangoon’s American origins 3. Atlas Obscura: Cultural significance and invention 4. Smithsonian Magazine: Context on mid-20th-century tiki culture

The worst thing you can do, when someone needs comfort, is nothing. Most people mean well. They pause beside a grieving friend or an anxious brother, searching for words that heal but finding none. Silence stretches. They walk away wishing they’d said something helpful. Yet Jehovah never fails to act. He never stands idly by. He is the God “of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 NWT) Comfort is not just something Jehovah gives; it is who He is. Just as “God is love” (1 John 4:8 NWT), so He is comfort — steady, tender, and personal. When He draws close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18 NWT), He brings relief that reaches deeper than pain. When He says, “As a mother comforts her son, so I will keep comforting you,” He reveals the tone of His heart — active, constant, and near. (Isaiah 66:13 NWT) What a privilege, then, that Jehovah allows us to share in His comfort. We are not expected to generate our own soothing words or rely on empty sympathy. He first comforts us so that we “may be able to comfort others … with the comfort that we receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NWT) That means every time we open His Word and share a verse that reaches someone’s heart — perhaps a psalm that calmed us, or a promise that steadied us — we are passing along the very comfort that once healed us. It is not about eloquence. It is about allowing Jehovah’s own words to travel through us. The comfort is His; the privilege is ours. And when someone’s tears slow because a scripture reminded them that Jehovah sees, listens, and still cares — that moment is sacred. The God of comfort has spoken again, this time through one of His servants.

The Bible acknowledges the pain of unfulfilled longings. Many faithful ones have felt “yearning for a better place” (Hebrews 11:16, NWT). It can be difficult when our lives don’t match what we hoped for, especially when others seem to move forward while we feel stuck. Jehovah does not ask us to deny that pain — he keeps track of every tear (Psalm 56:8). Contentment, however, is something that must be learned. The apostle Paul admitted: “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Philippians 4:11-13, NWT). The word translated “content” (arkeo) conveys the idea of having enough to keep going, to be adequate for the situation — not having every desire satisfied. It means trusting that Jehovah provides what is truly necessary for today. True contentment is not about suppressing desires or settling for misery. It is about anchoring our peace of mind in Jehovah’s unchanging promise: “I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5). That assurance allows us to endure while we wait on better circumstances — whether small improvements now or the complete fulfillment of our desires in the new world to come. So yearning itself is not wrong. But contentment grows when we shift our focus from what we lack to what cannot be taken from us: Jehovah’s loyal love and constant help.