Wonder and Wondering About

As I think about the subject of "wonder", again, I remember that "wonder" is a verb, also, and describes an active state of mind.

At this moment, I am wondering, "How did I happen to select one particular book from my bookshelf?" The book is called, “Writing the Natural Way" by Dr. Gabriele Rico. My late Aunt Bonnie Eldred, of St. Petersburg, Florida, gave me the book.
When I opened the book, I was surprised! The first page held words about the verb, ”wonder.”

Rico quotes D. H. Lawrence, also an author, as saying, “Wonder is so crucial to creative thought, we call it our "Sixth Sense.”
“Children”, Lawrence added, “make sense of their world by wondering.”

We, all, adults and children, alike, seek answers to matters we wonder about. "Is it warm enough to go outside with just a sweater? "Am I starting too late to get to school on time?" "Will I meet the deadline for this project?" "What do I need to get from the store? I wonder if I have enough money?" Experience adds to our store of knowledge and lessens some of our wondering.

When we give an infant a rattle to hold, we introduce the child to the process of wondering! The infant moves her, or his hand and hears a sound. The sound may surprise the child. Might we suppose the child wonders, "What is that?"

Psychologists have said, "It is important, in a child's development, for a child to learn the effect of her or his action. "Move my hand ...I hear something". "Open my hand?..Something goes away." (a rattle will fall from the child's hand).

Wonder in Songs
Sometimes we, as children or adults do not have an answer for things we wonder about. We even sing about that "wondering". We sing, " Twinkle twinkle little star. How I wonder what you are.”

Another song ilustrates that we can "wonder" about something, almost anywhere. The singer says, "I wonder as I wander out under the sky, How Jesus, our Savior, did come for to die? For poor ordinary people like you and like I? I wonder as I wander out under the sky.”

In 1933, the song above, about "wandering" and "musing", was collected by John Jacob Niles (now deceased). Niles, while walking in the mountains, met a young girl, who, as she walked, sang the song about Jesus. When Niles asked her, the girl agreed to sing the song again. Niles, then, was able to copy the words and make notes for the tune. Niles, thus, has given us who follow, a legacy of song. -- http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/i_wonder_as_i_wander.htm

Empty tank
A few summers ago, while driving far from any town, I encountered a quandry of my own to wonder about. I "happened" to look at the car's gas gauge. Its needle was on "empty"! I felt most unsettled, and had a feeling of panic. I wondered, "So far from help, what can I do?"

Then I "remembered" reading about just such a problem in Henry Fielding's book, "Rule of Thumb". In his book, Fielding writes: "Have you "discovered" your gas gauge is on "empty"? Do not despair. If you continue driving, but keep your car’s speed at 35 miles an hour, you will be able to reach a gas station." Fielding's advice, to my relief, proved trustworthy.

My "experience" in the presence of a "need" (the empty gas tank that I hadn't yet noticed) was wonder-filled for me! My attention "had been called" to the need I had, and then I was "reminded" of a solution. Later in the day, it "came to me" how wondrous the experience had been! To this day, I am grateful, for the "help" that I received that day, (and has come to me at other times). I believe the help I needed, came to me, spiritually, from the Provider of all Good!

And for now, I have finished wondering about, and speaking about, wonder, awesome wonder!
Marylee Manson Armour.
September 1995, December 18,1997,
January 19,1998.
Shortened March 27,2006. Revised, April 25,2006, Revised May 6,2006