Wonder

won·der [wuhn-der]
verb (used without object)
1. to think or speculate curiously
2. to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel (often followed by at)

This word keeps popping up around me. I recently read Wonder by R. J. Palacio, and it was inspiring, causing me to think and speculate. 

I wonder about lots of things. I wonder what my life would have looked like without the abuse. I wonder why the abuse happened. I wonder why certain people came into my life at various times, some bringing terrible, awfulness, and others bringing love and joy.

I wonder what the future holds for me and my family. What dreams will be realized, and what will be lost. I wonder about the future of this world. What will become of our country.

And I wonder about wondering. And I realize I need to change my definition. I focus on "to think or speculate curiously", when in reality I would be much better served with "to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe". 

So just for today I am going to wonder at the warmth of the sun, and how its appearance lifts my spirit and opens my heart. I'm going to wonder at the blue of the spring sky, and the tiny blossoms on my cherry tree. I'm going to wonder at the fog that floated across my back yard this morning as my dogs wandered around sniffing and wondering their own wonders.

I wonder what wonders I will see.

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(photo credit Alan Pennington)

Wonder

The last book you read . . . 

Well this comes at a fortunate time.

The last book I read was a young adult novel by R. J. Palacio called Wonder. A friend from college had posted the book on her Goodreads account, and piqued my curiosity. I checked with my local library, and the Kindle edition was available. I could not put my Kindle down once I started the book! And now I find myself missing the characters, as if they were old friends. To me that is the mark of a really fine book.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.
August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

So even if you're way past "young-adult" and you haven't picked up a book since you graduated, I really encourage you to give this one a try. Or as my friend said, "Read this now!"

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Wonder

Wonder -- to think or speculate curiously; to doubt; to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe.

I've seen them all. 

I've wondered about memories and events and horrors.

I've wondered if there were truth in any of the pictures that flash through my head -- sometimes still shots; sometimes in streaming video.

I've thought, speculated, and doubted.

But today, today I choose WONDER -- admiration, amazement, awe.

For the people and opportunities God puts in my path daily. For having survived the horrors. For being giving the strength to keep trying. For the intellect to investigate and determine truth. 

To WONDER at the gifts God graciously bestows on me -- the gifts he showers on me. 

And I want to hold that WONDER for the rest of the season; the rest of the year; the rest of my life.

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