Outside Lies Magic - Something Extraordinary in the Ordinary

For this class last week, I got the opportunity to go to one of my favorite places: The Fort Worth Zoo. 

My friends and I spent the next few hours meandering through the wonder that is creation. Being there reminded me of Psalm 96:11-12

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

This Psalm calls for universal joy and praise from all of God's creation. There are so many things in this world that look designed, and it all points back to our designer - the Lord. 

One of the first animals that made me slow down was a small tortoise tucked under some greenery. At first glance, it almost blended into the environment. But the longer I looked, the more detail I noticed—the pattern on its shell, the slow and intentional way it moved, and how calm it seemed in its space. There was something grounding about it. In a world that moves so fast, it felt like a quiet reminder that not everything has to rush.

One of the first animals that made me slow down was a small tortoise tucked under some greenery. At first glance, it almost blended into the environment. But the longer I looked, the more detail I noticed - the pattern of its shell, rounded hexagonal shapes fitting together to create a protective home. When we spoke too loudly, it would pull its head inside, and we would wait for it to come back out. There was something grounding about it. In a world that moves so fast, it felt like a quiet reminder that not everything has to rush. Slowness, for the tortoise, is not a weakness but a strength.


Later on, we observed a bear walking along the edge of the water. It had a sway in its confident walk, stepping in and out of the shallow stream to cool off from the hot, humid day. The slow movement of the water mirrored the bear’s pace, and everything felt steady and controlled. Watching it reminded me that every animal on this earth has been given exactly what it needs to survive. We are already provided for, yet we constantly feel the urge to strive for more.


My favorite animal at the zoo is the gorilla. For my 20th birthday, I went to the zoo with my sister to see baby Bruno in his first year of life. He was tiny and playful, and now, almost three years later, he still is. I watched him swing, throw hay at his mother, and jump from rock to rock. They feel so similar to us in their curiosity and playfulness. I could sit for hours and watch them. There’s something special about seeing that connection. It makes me think about how closely tied we are to the rest of creation, even when we don’t realize it.


Walking through the zoo, I realized how easy it is to overlook these moments when you’re just passing through. But when I slowed down and paid attention, even the smallest details felt meaningful. What once felt like a simple outing turned into something more reflective. It reminded me that the extraordinary isn’t far away, it’s already around us, waiting to be noticed.

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