Friday, November 30, 2012

five minute friday: wonder

Wonder.

I don't use the word very often but I think its something I do all the time. Leave me to my own devices and my mind drifts, chewing over an earlier conversation or an event or something I read. I wonder.

And so often it can be negative. I wonder what might have been. All the "what if?" questions. Quite fun, sometimes, to rewrite your own life story. But a distraction from the reality of today. That's OK, to a point. Maybe even leads to improvements and a better way. But on the other hand does it just tempt me to believe that what I have isn't good enough, that I should be/have/do better? I become regretful of the have-nots rather than grateful for the haves. I see the details of life as unfortunate irritants, rather than opportunities to marvel and be thankful.

My first teaching placement for my PGCE was with a year 2 class in a small school in north Warwickshire. The early placements are largely observations so by the time I was asked to take a science lesson I was keen to get stuck in. The class were learning about electricity and basic circuits and I was given the session with all the wires, bulbs and batteries. It was all set out, each pair of children had a piece of paper on their desk with a bulb in a holder, 2 wires with crocodile clip ends and an AA battery. We talked about how it all worked with demonstrations etc and then the children had a go.

The room was full of children clipping wires all over the place. But Lewis is the one I remember. I was at his table when he completed the circuit. The final crocodile clip attached to the bulb. The lightbulb went on, not just in the circuit, but behind his eyes too. Genuine wonder at the shining light that was a result of his simple connecting of the bits and pieces in front of him. A beautiful moment - for many of us we'd disregard it because the it was so simple. But Lewis' face and enjoyment of the moment is a reminder to wonder.

The word reminds me of a beautiful song by Keith & Kristyn Getty; Don't Let Me Lose My Wonder.
I've seen days melt into nights in circles of lights,
I've watched a spider spin a star between the window box flowers,
I've heard you laugh and cry in a single sigh, and a story form within.

Don't let me lose my wonder.
Don't let me lose my wonder.

I saw her broken dreams inside but helping others fly,
I saw his eyes without a doubt though other lights faded out,
And though her calling roared such graciousness flowed
From the vision of her soul.

A baby cried through the dark beneath a jeweled spark,
I knew Your voice upon the hill and heard my lostness still,
I found my home in the light where wrong was made right
And You rose like the morning star.

Don't let me lose my wonder
Don't let me lose my wonder.

It doesn't mention God at all but if you've ever heard it you'll know it's a prayer. God don't let me lose my wonder. Don't let me lose sight of you in the every day details. Don't let me miss seeing you even when everything seems dark and negative.


This blog is part of Five Minute Friday - a group of bloggers who write about a given subject for five minutes without, stopping, overthinking, editing or backtracking. There's rules:

* Check what the prompt is on www.lisajobaker.com
* Write a post in only five minutes on that topic on your blog.
* Link to Lisa's website and invite friends to join in.
* Select the permalink to your post {so not your blog url www.lisajobaker.com but your post url www.lisajobaker.com/2012/07/five-minute-friday-2/ }
* Using the linky tool at the bottom of Lisa's Five Minute Friday post enter your link.
* Your post will show up in our Five Minute Friday linky.
Be sure and encourage the person who linked up before you!

Five Minute Friday

5 comments:

  1. I don't think I've ever heard that song. I love the lyrics though.

    I "wonder" how we hold on to that sense of wonderment we had as kids instead of just growing weary of "Same old, same old."

    Great post! I'm visiting from 5MF today.

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  2. What a lovely idea this post is! The song sounds lovely from the words, don't think I know it at all! I totally identify with what you say. It's so important to wonder. be like a child and wonder. (I also remember a Eureka moment with the exact same science lesson on my second placement. Year 2- the sheer exuberation at producing light!

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  3. i totally understand what you are saying - watching my kids and their wonder at the simple pleasures of life, and the way they wonder how and why is just wonderful.
    the song is not something i have heard but love the lyrics.

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  4. Wow... such a great post! LOVE that song too - I had never heard it but typed it into YouTube! I too found you via Lisa-Jo!

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  5. Just found you through Floss.

    Love that you state on your facebook picture that you have no status. I will steal that one! :o)

    Also, on the sidebar, what a great idea of "posts I wish I had written"...may I steal that too? I have trouble remembering where I read something, and that is a clever thought to keep it all in one spot on your blog.

    You are my newest friend!!

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