Wonder -- "Meditations For People Who Do Too Much"

A quote from scientist Rachel Carson helps us to stretch our imaginations back to a time when "Wonder" was a part of our daily lives. In this reading from, "Meditations For People Who Do Too Much" (Aug. 22nd) we're told that to be in the presence of a child is something we should feel lucky to have. A child can enable us to re-see (also known as "vuja de") the world again with the wonder that defines childhood. As we age... where has our wonder gone?

Transcript

Meditations for people who do too much.

Wonder.

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder,

Without any such gift from the fairies,

He needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it,

Rediscovering with him the joy,

Excitement,

And mystery of the world we live in.

From Rachel Carson.

How fortunate if we get to be that adult who has the opportunity to be a companion to a child and support that child's sense of wonder.

We are lucky because that child can offer us the opportunity to rekindle our own awareness that wonder continues to dwell in us.

That child can remind us that we still have the capacity to look at cloud formations with new eyes and to giggle in excitement with a new discovery.

How long has it been since we really had a belly laugh,

Especially at ourselves?

How long has it been since we saw a rainbow in a drop of rain?

How long since we studied the progress of a red and black ladybug on our hand?

I wonder where our wonder is.