The Power of Wonder Part 2
April 22, 2026
The Power of Wonder Part 2
When your thoughts begin to spiral, wonder is a sure way back home.
Each day brings its share of challenges, like decisions to make, emotions to navigate, disappointments to face. We can feel confused by others, affected by their choices, or unsettled by unexpected circumstances. When such things happen, they can throw us off balance before we realize it.
Even when we try to stay steady and focused, small disruptions may gradually affect our mood. One negative thought can lead to another, and before long, we find ourselves in a downward spiral, imagining worst-case scenarios, feeling weighed down by what may never even happen. This is part of being human.
But there is also a very human way to gently interrupt that downward spiral. There is the power of wonder. Wonder does not fight our thoughts; it lifts us beyond them. It reconnects us to something deeper within: the soul. Within the soul lives every experience of beauty, love, and peace we have ever known. These are not gone. They are still alive within us, waiting for us to feel them again. When we enter a moment of wonder, even briefly, something shifts.
We become present.
We become aware.
We become open.
And in that openness, our worries begin to loosen their grip. Wonder is often closest when we step into nature. The feel of fresh air filling our lungs. The vastness of the sky stretches above us. The quiet strength of trees standing nearby.
These simple realities remind us that we are part of something larger… something spacious and alive. And in that space, our concerns begin to feel smaller. Just the other evening, after a rainstorm, I stepped onto the back porch. The air was clean and cool. That instant of breathing in the fresh scent during a rainstorm took me back to my earliest years, standing on a porch long ago, as a little boy, breathing in that same fresh scent. It was a small moment, but a deep one. In that breath, I remembered. I was no longer caught in my concerns; I was connected to something larger, something I first experienced as a soul child. I was present… and whole. That is the power of wonder. It returns us to ourselves.
Today will bring its own concerns. Some may feel large, others small, but all have the power to pull us away from peace. So, today I will step outside. I will breathe deeply. I will look up at the sky. And I will remember: I am not just my thoughts or calendar. I am not just my feelings and concerns; I am a soul who is alive in the fascinating wonder of it all. It generates life in my soul.
Wonder is to take part in the mystery into which we were born and in which we still live.
Spiritual practice: What object, image, or piece of art reminds you of your soul child? Is it placed where you can see it often? If not, consider creating a visible, sacred reminder—something that gently calls you back to your truest self.
Self-inquiry: Why do you think we need reminders to return to our soul child?
Prayer:
Dear God, For the power of wonder you placed in me at my making, I am so grateful. In that wonder, I feel held in Your arms. Amen.
