Wonder is More than a Word by Alan Anderson

 

The word “wonder” came to my mind for this post. I mulled it over and determined to present more than a mere dictionary definition of wonder.

Wonder is everywhere. Throughout life, there are people, times, events, scenes, etc. used to spark life in our sense of wonder. These experiences take our breath away, fill us with praise, and drive us to improve our craft as writers.

This sense of wonder is a curiosity about something we want to nurture. There are sources of inspiration in life that fill me with wonder. This inspiration is what I always hope to nurture through my writing. Please indulge me as I present ideas of how I see wonder.

 

Wonder in Another’s World

One of my granddaughters was born with multiple health challenges. Her name is Whitney. When she was two years old, medical professionals concluded she lives “in her own world.” A simple way to explain this is, not everyone she meets will form a close relationship with her. She decides, in her own way, whom she will welcome into her world. She allowed me into her world when she was an infant. This fills me with wonder to this day.

My relationship with my granddaughter is one of seeing wonder in the simple things in life. For instance, Whitney can enjoy playing with her stuffed toys every day. She never becomes tired of watching animation adventures on her iPad. She walks around her bedroom with a photograph of my parents, whom she never met, and talks to them in her simple language other people can’t understand. When she is outside, she looks up at the sky with her hands raised, as if reaching up to heaven.

Whitney shows me wonder in another world! She has taught me to seek wonder in everyday life.

 

Wonder in Walks

The dike a few minutes from where I live is a gateway to inspiration and word pictures for this writer. Sun rays of summer fade to be replaced by an autumn overcast of misty clouds. Within a few minutes on my walk, birds, such as finches, chickadees, and thrushes, fly from trees and add colourful life to the sky. I welcome the clouds and birds as I thank God for His creation.

I remember a walk on a beach on Vancouver Island a few years ago. I loved the crunch sound the small pebbles coating the beach made with every step. A sight I discovered piqued my sense of wonder. Small, colourful flowers had pushed their way through the rocks, sand, and pebbles. In this, I saw an illustration of tenacity, the value of never giving up.

 

Through such experiences, words in my head trip over each other as they begin to gather and anticipate being sent into the world. They want to encourage readers to walk in wonder. Walk along riverbanks and feel the cool autumn breeze as it floats across the water and brushes one’s uncovered cheeks. Such experiences leave me to want more.

 

Wonder in Our Words

Dear writer friends, never quit on your world of wonder and words. Words you pray over and send into the world. Like precious seeds of sweet-smelling flowers, scatter your words into the landscape of the souls of your readers. Like a lovely flower poking its way through sand and beach pebbles, persevere. Have faith your words, once settled in the hearts of your readers, will grow as strong as oak trees and strengthen the faith of people in need of hope.

A Question

My friends, what fills you with a sense of wonder? 

 

Alan lives in a small village called Deroche, British Columbia, with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. He enjoys walking on the dike near his home with trees all around, where he finds inspiration for his writing. He occasionally writes articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan is the new BC/Northern Regional Rep. for InScribe. His website is https://scarredjoy.ca.