Day five... A childlike sense of wonder

Even after teaching elementary school students for thirteen years now, I still feel that I have the greatest job on earth. To be surrounded by school-aged children all day long is like being in close proximity to the fountain of youth. Their observations, their keen ideas, the questions that they come up with force me to be full of knowledge and ready for anything.

In my classroom, I keep a wall of photos, drawings and writings from my students for our Cougar Wall of Character. Here the students get recognized for doing wonderful things at home or in the community. Some pictures show students helping at home. Others show them helping at a park clean up. One particular note is about one of my students who has raised over SEVEN THOUSAND dollars for Relay for Life. Her group, Lauren's Butterflies has walked many times in the fund-raising walks and has helped raise awareness and funds to research childhood cancers such as Leukemia. This little girl is one of my heroes and I am looking forward to walking with her this year at our local Relay for Life event. Beside these words, you can see a picture of me wearing one of Lauren's wonderful t-shirts that she had made to further raise funds in hopes to find a cure. The shirt reads, "Butterflies are free. Curing Cancer Isn't." Relay for Life is important to Lauren because when she was five, she was treated for Leukemia. Her world, of busy kindergarten play, came to a quick halt. Her family surrounded her with love and support. They lifted that little girl up and today Lauren seems to be doing well. Her fantastic spark for life, her sense of wonder continues to inspire me when I see her in my class each day.

I was recently reminded of the importance of wonder in our lives while rereading Brennan Manning's insightful book, The Ragamuffin Gospel. I would recommend the book for anyone who feels abashed, ashamed or worried about their past. It is a book for those who are unworthy of the good news, but a book that reminds us that the love of God can't be earned in the first place. The salvation that Christ offers is there for ragamuffins. Manning's book does not replace the gospel, rather it points to the wonder found in a salvation that is not deserved but it is available to all.

Here is an excerpt from the Manning's fifth chapter, Cormorants and Kittiwakes...
"By and large, our world has lost its sense of wonder. We have grown up. We no longer catch our breath at the sight of a rainbow or the scent of a rose, as we once did. We have grown bigger and everything else smaller, less impressive... We no longer run our fingers through water, no longer shout at the stars or make faces at the moon. Water is H2O, the stars have been classified, and the moon is not made of green cheese.

Later in the chapter, Brennan notes...
"We get so preoccupied with ourselves, the words we speak, the plans and projects we conceive, that we become immune to the glory of creation. We barely notice the cloud passing over the moon or the dewdrops clinging to the rose petals. The ice on the pond comes and goes. The wild blackberries ripen and wither. The blackbird nests outside our bedroom window, but we don’t see her. We avoid the cold and heat. We refrigerate ourselves in summer and entomb ourselves in winter. We are so accustomed to buying prepackaged meats and fish and fowl in supermarkets, we never think or blink about the bounty of God’s creation. We grow complacent and lead practical lives. We miss the experience of awe, reverence and wonder. We rake up every leaf as fast as it falls."
Brennan Manning - The Ragamuffin Gospel

The children have wonder. I am reminded of that when I read a story or when I bring in a science experiment to share with the class. When I dress up as one of my many zany characters, I see that they have wonder. Yet as adults, wonder is missing from our lives. I believe we could find it in everything, everyday, if we wanted to find it. Just take time to notice one thing today. One thing, anything and be filled by the wonder of it.

To badly re-word the moral of the Zen cliffhanger story, the one with the strawberry, when the world stops and you find yourself hanging at the end of a rope, every color seems more vibrant, every sound is like music, every experience is magnified... and you wish you had more time for it all.

My thought for today: Don't wait until you are at the end to make the most out of life. Don't wait until your world is uprooted. Explore and wonder...just like that little kid who is still there inside you asking, "Hey, Mom! Do I have to wear a jacket?"



The Innocence Mission - Wonder of Birds - I am honored to be able to share this wonderful group with you. Don and Karen Peris. Look them up.

Link of the day...
KIVA Event Gallery (thousands of pictures of childhood wonder) http://www.kidsadventuring.org/gallery/ photos by Jon Beard

Quote of the day...
"It just ain't possible to explain some things. It's interesting to wonder on them and do some speculation, but the main thing is you have to accept it-take it for what it is, and get on with your growing." Jim Dodge

Bible verse of the day...
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5,6