Inviting in a sense of wonder

When the first buds on our cherry tree become lush and ready to burst into puffs of pink, when barren earth begins reveal tufts of green pushing upwards towards the light, or even when I’m outside gardening after dinner, a sense of wonder and joy at how lucky I am to experience another spring begins to blossom within me.

Our variety of seasons have always been enjoyable to me.  With each season, I have the opportunity to explore what is being awakened in me and upon reflection, it quite often includes a sense of curiosity and wonder at how miraculous life is.  My sense of wonder this year has been especially peaked because of how bleak, cold and long this past winter seemed, which was actually balanced by the miracle of sourdough bread.  It was not only the scent of warm bread in anticipation of salted butter, but the chemistry of H2O and flour creating a starter that when well tended and fed, takes on a sweeter, sour scent and flavor with little bubbles inspiring a well-developed crusty bread.  I wonder if without the contrast of this last winter, I would have been so delightfully surprised to see all of our prior plantings beginning to pop with the warmer weather.

Merriam Webster has several definitions for the word wonder.  The one that best describes the experience for me is "rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one's experience". Awesomely mysterious!  Astonishment!  

I’ve come to the realization that a sense of wonder has provided me with a suit of armor that keeps at minimum influence the unsettledness of life.  When what is happening (or what we are told is happening) starts to become too loud and distracting, I’ll head out into the garden or woods and discover something wonder-ful (full of wonder) to shift my perspective.  

This mysterious nature of life can evoke a feeling or felt-sense within; sensations that we have no words for yet are soothing and regulating to the nervous system.  Have you ever experienced this?  It’s like something taking your breath away (literally or figuratively) and inside, there is an indescribable sensation that pulls you to look closer.  To slow down and have a more meaningful experience.  To feel your heart and mind open to the collective experience of being alive.

Nature, newborns (babies, animals, plants, etc.), evocative art/music, a physical sensation… I’d love to hear what has evoked a sense of wonder in you, and how you invite the experience of wonder into your life.