But the exhibit that really grabbed me this time was a display on the evolution of the written word…from a simple potter’s mark all the way to this blog! (This was where I lost Jan. She wandered on and I stood transfixed at the exhibit.) There was a graphic that showed the evolution of certain letters, from primitive writing up to Latin characters. The “A” was very similar all the way through, though the early ones were tilted sideways or looked like a bird foot. “H” was similar in spirit, if not in exact form. But the one that blew me away was the “O,” which was the same all the way through. And there I stood with my mouth in an “O,” wondering at this marvel.
When you think of it, the “O” is universal, as far as I know, on every human face in the world, as a sign of wonder and surprise. After all, that’s our human role in this world–to wonder and stand in awe at this surprising universe. As Joan Chittister said, “Surprise is God’s way of saying ‘hello’.” So God said “hello” in the Word, and in all the wonderful things we saw in the AMNH. Now, we just need a couple more months to see all the rest of it!