Wonder-Land

My Wonder-land

I know where the idea to kayak into the middle of the lake on a dark moonless night came from. It was a book I was reading. I chose this night because there were no clouds. There were a billion stars, and I could see each of them as I lay back in the seat and looked skyward.
The lake was so calm I could also study the stars in the water by looking down. I could even see the Milky Way reflected in the mirror smooth lake, marred only by the occasional ripple from my kayak or an errant cool night breeze.

Like many people, I have viewed the infinite star array of the heavens on a dark night and declared my insignificance and unworthiness. I’ve stood humbled by the space, the time warp, the energy, the vastness, and the unknowns of the universe as it spread out before me – insignificant spec that I am. No longer! That night, I felt the opposite. I felt connectedness with the universe – the Universe (with a capital “U”). My ‘Inner Me’ connected with the ‘Outer Space’ in a beautiful cosmic moment. I felt at one with all that lay above me and around me.

A loon crooned across the lake to remind me I remain earthbound for the time being. I wonder if it is the same loon that surfaced right next to my kayak a few weeks ago, bringing Max to attention and me to a state of wonder at such close presence to this wild and usually shy creature. I took it as a sign, of course.

Wonder! That’s the word I was looking for that night. Wonder is what we have as children and then lose as we allow our adult egos to prevail. Egos can’t let ourselves feel the sense of unity with the Universe; else we’d not be in complete control of ourselves and our destiny. Ego says, “I’ll handle all this.” Universe says, “Release. Let go. Go with the flow.”

Wonder is what we regain with a heightened sense of spirituality. We allow ourselves to feel awe over special moments we find in Nature – like my night in the kayak, sunrise over a mist covered lake, the loon as we looked at each other and shared the moment, a chipmunk in my lap eating a peanut, or watching a doe and fawn wander across a mountain road I hiked along. Of course, these were special moments where my activity and the moment crossed in synchronicity.

Wonder is there every moment of our day. I feel awe and wonder at the love I feel from family – both nuclear and extended, or from my feelings of compassion and empathy. I feel wonder at new insights and comprehension that I find in books or other media – revelations that help me understand my Being, my connectedness, and my relationships with the Universe and all in it. I feel wonder when I experience my spirituality.

Over the years our camp in Maine has become not only a gathering place for family, but also a place where I reestablish or reaffirm my sense of Wonder. When I was fully in the ‘rat race’ I lost my sense of awe often, except perhaps to humor my own ego. Einstein said, “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” I can count on this camp to open my eyes, and to give me little events that leave me in wonder and awe at the simplest of things.

I hope you can all take a moment where you are to stop and ‘wonder’ – to find ‘awe’ in something right at your fingertips – real or ethereal. For one, I miss you all and so look forward to being in your company again in a few weeks. For another, the same sky appears at night above you as it does here; look up some clear night and feel the connectedness, love, and wonder that you deserve and need to hold dear to you all day long.

Namasté

Bob and Max In the Daytime

This website is to stimulate your spiritual thinking in the hope that it will contribute to your spiritual growth. The author invites your comments and critiques by reply e-mail to bob@futuremoons.com.