The Color of Wonder

To see a World in a Grain of Sand 

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, 

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand 

And Eternity in an hour.” 

(William Blake, Auguries of Innocence)

I stopped last week to contemplate the honey bees buzzing in our poppies; I could have watched them all day. They are a marvel to behold, though, I must say not quite so majestic as the massive bumble bee that landed nearby. It was nearly the size of my thumb - so large and at peace that it let me stroke its back. The contented sound of the bees at their labors, their leg sacks bursting with pollen, and the aeronautical miracle of bees in flight fill me with a feeling of wonder and awe.

While the macro world of bees leaves me breathless, equally so do the Kananaskis mountains impress upon my heart an overwhelming sense of reverence and admiration. While backpacking two weeks ago, and climbing up to the Haig glacier, I felt very small, humbled to be a part of a world so filled with infinite beauty. 

“The pursuit of truth and beauty

is a sphere of activity

in which we are permitted

to remain children all our lives.” 

(Albert Einstein)

Albert is correct in this - when we stand before the mountains and stars, or the bees in flight, the unfolding of a rose, or the geometric perfection of a spider web... the child in us squirms with innocent delight. To experience wonder is to let go of our pride, for it is in awe that we touch true humility. Humility is the quality wherein we acknowledge our truth, wholeness and brokenness, and the fullness of our potential, without needing to diminish someone else in the acknowledgment. So it is that in wonder we stand before the miracle of all creation and know that we too are a part of that miracle; we and all that is, come from the same source. 

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” 

(Socrates)

To stop in the middle of the day and open oneself to the unfolding miracle of life that is happening all around us brings light and life to the soul. Too often we let ourselves drown in the pool of daily drudgery that is the news, the traffic, the stresses of our schedule; we forget to breathe, to listen, to look, to feel. We forget about the wonder of a combustion engine, the marvel of oil made into plastic, the incredible sensation of sunshine on our face, of a breeze stirring our hair... 

Be a child today - discover the essence of the universe in a grain of sand, listen to the bees, contemplate nature and humanity and goodness as life swirls around in this moment. In so doing you acknowledge the power of Love immersed in our world, weaving everything together.

I leave the last word to author Rachel Carson:

“The more clearly we can focus our attention

on the wonders and realities of the universe about us,

the less taste we shall have for destruction.” 

(Rachel Carson)

The color of wonder...

eyes and heart wide open.

An ant

carried a burden

ten times

its weight

and never

broke

a

sweat

And I

stopped

to take

notice

May Love

likewise

take

notice

of

me

Pause

Breathe

Listen

From the Bible: "Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him." (Psalm 33:8)

From Buddhism: 

"The whole of existence arises in me,

In me arises the threefold world,

By me pervaded is this all,

Of naught else does this world consist

(Hevajra Tantra 8.41)

From Shinto: "Even in a single leaf of a tree, or a tender blade of grass, the awe-inspiring Deity manifests Itself." (Urabe-no Kanekuni)