Think of a child who has discovered something that fills them with a sense of wonder. What a beautiful sight their expression is. They glow. There are so many ways that Love is expressed in this world in an awe inspiring and wonder-filling way. And yet so often as adults we try to hide the fact that we are impressed. We have been taught that to stand in a feeling of wonder is to be immature. Immature as opposed to childlike. We trade in our sense of wonder for a feeling of security that never arrives. All the while, we admire, sometimes secretly, those adults who still have the capacity to fully embrace their wonder. We read their books and listen to their CD’s.
In PEACE IS EVERY STEP, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh writes, “Life is filled with many wonders, like the blue sky, the sunshine, the eyes of a baby. Our breathing, for example, can be very enjoyable. I enjoy breathing every day. But many people appreciate the joy of breathing only when they have asthma or a stuffed-up nose … Wherever we are, any time, we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other, the wonder of our breathing. We don’t have to travel anywhere else to do so. We can be in touch with those things right now.”
Today let me make an effort to reclaim my sense of wonder. I take a few minutes to feel the wonder-fullness of my own breath, to stand in wonder at the magnificence of the people I encounter. I recognize that part of honoring the dignity and worth of all life is acknowledging the wonderfulness of each and every person, every animal, every plant, every thing seen and unseen. My life is wonder-filled. My life is wonder-full!
