Is anything more magical than the wonder of a child? Their eyes open, their minds eager to draw in the thoughts and experiences? How crushing it must be as they get older to have that stifled and snuffed out. The wonder of a child is an amazing and precious thing and should be welcomed and encouraged, not driven out of them.
What happens as we get older? Where
does that wonder, that wide eyed desire to learn, experiment, and
discover things go? How do we lose our desire for new experiences?
As we get older, we're forced by
society to become more focused and less fanciful. Our questions are
met with clinical answers and we're told to take them as “The
Truth”. Many places crush a person down if they ask a question,
offer an idea not within the limits that authority believes should be
placed, etc.
We can still maintain our wonder as
adults. We just have to be willing to ask questions. To leave behind
the restrictions of our lives and open ourselves to new experiences.
I lost my desire for such things a long time ago. I was content to
plod along in my narrow little bubble, not seeing, not learning, not
asking questions.
Then I met Himself. He shook me to my
core because here was a young man who didn't stop asking questions. I
didn't think that was possible. I thought everything had to be
explained and once that explanation was given it was the only way. He
showed me a different way.
It's taken me fifteen years of constant
exposure to Himself to finally get to the point where I'll freely ask
questions. I'll look something up if I want to know an answer. Yes,
there are times where I just want the answer handed to me. I'll admit
I get lazy. But Himself pushes me to keep developing my sense of
curiosity, my desire to know more.
I'm sure I don't have to ask you, my
blog readers, if you've maintained your sense of wonder. If you're
here, you probably have. So many of my followers are writers,
readers, or both. But if you see someone struggling, if you know
someone who no longer believes, then give them a nudge. Show them
that there is still some wonder in their adult world. Let them
discover for themselves that there are still things to be curious
about.
One thing I've never stopped doing is wondering why. But life has made me a lot more cautious about who I ask questions of.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good thing to be in today's world. I don't ask just anyone questions either. I'm not always sure I want the answers they're going to give.
DeleteGreat post. I like the lesson you are trying to impart here. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks Patricia. I'm glad you liked it. I think if everyone maintained their sense of wonder things would be far more interesting.
DeleteThe best perk about teaching kids is seeing that wonder in their eyes when you bring something new into their lives.
ReplyDeleteThat has to be a great thing to see. It's always nice when we can spark a child's imagination.
DeleteI love seeing that look of awe on children's faces - it's almost magical. I do miss feeling that way, but occasionally it does happen. Like the time we visited Canada for the first time and was blown away by the utter beauty of the place (we were in Alberta and BC). A lovely post!
ReplyDeleteYes, seeing new places can spark that sense of wonder. I love travelling for that reason.
DeleteGreat post. I sometimes struggle to help my students understand that the majority of what we learn in life occurs outside the classroom, not in it. A diploma--even a college diploma--doesn't mark a point when they can put "education" behind them--in fact, it's only just beginning.
ReplyDeleteA desire to learn keeps that sense of wonder going in adults.
DeleteI've maintained my sense of wonder, but I could definitely use an injection of a child's wonder. I think over time we all tend to forget how much of a gift each day is.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Stephanie.
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