Is there a place for wonder in your life? When I think of the word “wonder” I relate it to “awe,” that feeling you get when you see something impressive, beautiful, and inspiring. “Oh, the wonder of it all” a song once said. This kind of wonder can come in nature, like seeing a beautiful waterfall. You know the kind, a wide or tall waterfall after enough rain so it is full and powerful. The experience stretches us beyond simple words to describe. The birth of a baby, when snow blankets everything, the scent of rain or of someone your love. Many other sights and experiences of the natural world bring wonder.
But remember the original, basic meaning of “wonder?” To think about, try to figure out, consider the meaning, that kind of wonder. You can wonder about anything. To wonder begins with curiosity. Best if you aren’t trying to control it, but just wanting to learn about it, maybe understand it better. Centuries of scientific study has had its roots in wonder. Humans wondered about animals, plants, and the stars. This has led to expanding knowledge over history. We don’t use our knowledge well all the time, but wonder has led to much deeper seeing what is present in our environment, and as a result we have developed many great tools we take for granted. Our housing, agriculture, and healthcare expanded with wonder and curiosity.
Do you allow wonder in your life? Wonder about deeper meanings or wonder for curiosity’s sake? Busyness and media work against wonder. They tell you what to do and keep you operating on a surface level. No time for wonder, I’ve got too much to get done! Or too much to keep up with in culture.
What if you began to wonder more about yourself and how you operate? There is a lot “out there”, but you are a treasure trove of mysteries still to explore. Some of your deepest awareness and knowledge will come, not from other people’s “facts” but from your exploring your inner mind and body. How you tick could be fascinating. Motivations are often subconscious; that is, you may think you know why you do something, but there’s probably more behind it. Your body affects your mind, and vice versa. When you follow paths that wonder lays out before you, there will be fine details you didn’t expect or admit. The body directs without words; the mind can work in secret.
A man told me he has some recurring dreams. They are pleasant enough, but they reach back to a time in his life that can never come again. This creates some stress. He doesn’t know, on the surface, why the dreams come. I believe if he will explore, pause to wonder, that somewhere inside he knows why.
Just exploring your body is an adventure in wonder. The Bible says, “we are fearfully and wonderfully made.” Despite aches and pains, isn’t it a wonder that so many systems and parts work together for you to walk, talk, eat, relate and live each day? Sit by a dying person’s bedside to appreciate that all this works together, most of the time, in miraculous fashion. When you see it come to an end, when the systems stop, it is striking that they kept going as long as they did. They are still working in you, even if you have complaints. If your heart stopped beating, you would be gone. But it doesn’t; it keeps on beating, for years and years, day after day, moment after moment. It’s a wonder!
Try an experiment: The mind is often caught up in thoughts contained in your head; but direct it to notice the small toe on your left foot. Or try your right shoulder, your nose, or your left big thumb. How is it right now? Comfortable? Pinched? Warm? Cool? Move it if you are able. Or pick any other small, seemingly insignificant body part and focus there for a few minutes. It may be tense, and you can relax it but appreciate that it is working, working often in the background so you can enjoy your life.
Take a few moments to relax your body. Close your eyes if you can safely do so. Mentally focus on each area of your body from head to toes and let go of tension. Take a few slow deep breaths. Express your thanks for how you are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Receive a few moments of calm. Make note here: this is the state in which you can best wonder. Whether your wonder is about your body, like I often wonder if I can let go the painful tension I get from tightening up my left shoulder. Your wonder can focus on your body, or on your dreams, or on your ambitions, or on your relationships. Wonder can have an outward focus on the world. How will you respond to the challenges and opportunities? Wonder, is a state of curiosity and exploring that doesn’t yet know, that holds ideas loosely to push toward a deeper understanding. That kind of wonder. It’s deeper than a google search. It offers more than a simple reading of another person’s conclusions. It may frighten you. But it can reveal deeper insights, wisdom that’s below the surface where we often live.
