Sunday, September 9, 2018

State of Wonder


Awe

The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
Jacques Yves Cousteau

I used to go fishing a lot with my former husband. To be honest, I didn't enjoy fishing, but it was his passion, so we went. I'm one of the unfortunate folks who never gets “sea legs,” thus has terrible motion sickness on moving water. As you might imagine, I'm not much fun to be with on a boat. But, I did learn a few things lying flat of my back on the deck while trying to survive the heaving and hawing. I learned about the patience and fascination involved in fishing. What a piece of work it is—to get everything needed loaded onto a boat, choose the proper bait for the desired catch, set hooks, fling lures in just the right spot. I learned the ye-ha of fly fishing that allows proper placement of the fly, yet keeps the long line from tangling. I learned the three P's of catching fish—preparation, placement, and patience. Also, I learned to be in awe of the sea. That was the best part by far.

The sea is a moody lady. She changes hourly, and keeps all manner of secrets. She's in love the the sun and the moon and sends every color of the rainbow through her clouds. She can be beautiful and angry at the same time. She can save your life or kill you and never look back. She creates weather, and decides if it will be pleasant or furious. She's unpredictable, flamboyant, and, sometimes, dangerous. In all her moods, she is incredibly powerful. She expects wonder, and she gets it.

Socrates said, “Wisdom begins in wonder.” We don't have to sacrifice our sense of wonder when we grow up. It is an aspect of childhood best kept for a lifetime. There's far too much in creation to inspire awe for us to ever give it up. I hope you experience wonder today—just go outside and look up.

                                                           In the Spirit,
                                                                Jane

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