I remember an occasion from many years ago when Susan and I were visiting a friend. One day we went out to do some shopping and her young son strapped in his car seat was launching a constant stream of questions with a simple “why?” It seemed that after every patient answer she gave, his little mind would wonder some more and out of his little mouth would come another “why” as if he were probing deeper and deeper into the mysteries of life, as if each answer given was not sufficient for his ever curious brain. Somewhere along our travels, he fell asleep and the whys ended. Ended briefly, that is. When we reached the mall and our friend woke her son, his first sound was “why” as if one from earlier had failed to launch.
The Bible calls us children and Jesus says the Kingdom of God belongs to children. Children we are and child-like with wonderment we should be. A friend once described to me what retirement was like for him. He asked, “Do you remember what Saturday was like when you were a kid?” I replied, “Yes.” He then said, “It is like that but there is no homework due on Monday.”
That sounds like some sweet freedom to play and to explore, to not take everything so seriously, not even ourselves and how we succeed or fail. The next day is Saturday too. And what long days those are when without the pressure to perform and to get things done, we can pause and nap and goof off and maybe even see and hear things we otherwise are just too rushed, just too worried, just too accomplished to see and hear. There could even be space in there for us to wonder our whys. We should ask more whys. We should have that child-like endless curiosity that launches those whys. And maybe it is just fine that we do not have an answer. Maybe it is more important that we have another why, that our amazement and curiosity and playfulness do not come to an end.
Some of us, including me, should probably play hooky from our responsibilities and tend to our amazement and curiosity. We should take time away from our doing and fixing and take a little more time for our being. There is no homework due on Monday and if there is, oh well, there are other important things life, like doing nothing and simply experiencing awe. Jesus is not going to flunk us either way. If you find something amazing let others know that they may wonder with you. Say, “Everybody, look!” Too many of us are so busy adulting that we miss the good stuff that God has prepared to delight God’s children.
So, like the old Paul Harvey program I will close by letting you know that that young boy with all the whys is now a Boeing engineer. He is working on virtual reality technology and sharing with his wife the rearing of two young daughters. I hope they do to and for him what he did to and for his mom and me - the reminder of wonderment and why.
Grace and peace and wonderment to you,
Fr. Bill+
Wonderment
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The Shepherd’s Voice