Seven Wonders of the World, Part 1

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
I.
The Great Pyramid of Giza

II.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

III.
The Zeus of Olympia

IV.
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

V.
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

VI.
The Colossus of Rhodes

VII.
The Lighthouse of Alexandria
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Seven Wonders of the Modern World
I. The Eiffel Tower ~ Paris, France
II. The Gateway Arch ~ St. Louis, USA
III. The Golden Gate Bridge ~ San Francisco, USA
IV. Mount Rushmore Memorial ~ South Dakota, USA
V. The Statue of Liberty ~ NYC, USA
VI. The Statue of Cristo Redentor ~ Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
VII. The Sydney Opera House ~ Sydney, Australia

Seven Natural Wonders of the World
I. The Grand Canyon ~ Arizona, USA
II. The Great Barrier Reef ~ Australia
III. Iguaçú Falls ~ Brazil, Argentina
IV. Krakatoa Island ~ Indonesia
V. Mount Everest ~ Nepal
VI. Mount Fuji ~ Japan
VII. Niagara Falls ~ Ontario, Canada, New York, USA

* Seven Wonders of the World (According To Elementary Children)
A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World. Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

I. Egypt's Great Pyramids
II. The Taj Mahal
III. The Grand Canyon
IV. Panama Canal
V. Empire State Building
VI. St. Peter's Basilica
VII. The Great Wall of China
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

I.
The Sense of Sight

II.
The Sense of Hearing

III.
The Sense of Touch

IV.
The Sense of Taste

V.
The Joy of Feeling

VI.
The Joy of Laughter

VII.
The Joy of Loving

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary and that we take for granted are truly wondrous!

A gentle reminder--that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand or bought by man.

Tonight I have shared with you several different types of wonders this ole world possesses. Each is a wonder in its own way, and long have I been fascinated by the Ancient Wonders. Truly, they show Man was capable of greatness even then and that he wasn't as barbaric or as rudimentary in technology or architecture as some would believe. The Modern and Natural Wonders are just as awe-inspiring, but, it is this young girl's list of Wonders that truly has me humbled and agreeing with her over her choices. There is beauty and wonder all around us. We just have to take the time to enjoy them.

* This entry and the next are inspired by the above email story and an essay from Soul Food's Alluvial Mine.