The best part of the season is wonder ­-- the kind that children display - #lakewoodnews

'Tis the Season, no?

Season of what? you may ask. Season of apostrophed words ('Twas the Night...)? Season of Joy (as long as you stay far away from malls)? Season of Miracles (if you believe Hans Gruber)? Season of Magic (to go along with old Ebenezer Scrooge)? How about Season of Wonder? (That's my favorite).

What is "wonder?"

Well, Webster's defines wonder as "a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar or inexplicable." There - does that clear it up for you?

The reason wonder is such an enigma is that we, in latter-day America, rarely encounter something inexplicable. We have elevated science and reason - both wonderful fields - to the point that mysteries and faith have a diminished role in our lives. When all else fails, we turn to our ubiquitous technology to get an explanation and rarely have a chance to just experience the strange and beautiful.

But children have that capacity: Children don't need explanations for everything they see - though they will ask for them endlessly. And, I think, the idea that the Christmas season is the time of year that we focus on the joy of children is also the reason this is the season of wonder.

I know, I know, we're busy. We're, ya know, grown-ups, and we have things to do and, on top of that, we have shopping to accomplish and parties to plan and ...yadda yadda yadda. And that's why wonder dies. And, sometimes, the problem is that we build all these expectations around the season, whether it's for romance, or for the perfect Thomas Kincaid-like snowfall to blanket the city, or even for our holiday bonuses (Clark Griswold!). And when they don't come through, our spirit is slightly subdued.

Really, how many times, when you're making your pilgrimages up to Colorado Mills for the stupid Secret Santa present (admit it-you've called it that before!), do you take a second and notice how beautiful the trees are for the half-mile lining the highway, when they're all lit up? How often do you notice complete strangers walking around that mall whistling Christmas tunes? Or do you pause at the smell of pine and cinnamon wafting out of stores?

Me? I'm that guy who knows every house in the neighborhood that decorates at Christmastime. It's something I look forward to every year, and, when one of the houses I know doesn't decorate, it makes me a little bit sad, and I wonder if there's something going on in that house. On the other hand, discovering a new house that does have decorations, that never did before, is one of the weird little joys I get during this season. And, with as dry and brown as everything is right now, those lights are among the few beautiful things to enjoy so far this winter.

By the way, that last sentence? That's like a writer's "snow dance" - the literary equivalent of washing your car when a snowstorm is supposed to be on its way.

Of course, wonder is the reason for the whole season to begin with. Even if you don't believe this, and regardless of how you feel about certain adherents to this belief, don't you have to pause for a second and be awed that one of the major faiths in the world believes that God chose to become human, to live as one of us for a time, and that's the reason we celebrate Christmas? It blows my mind!

Wonder is an inextricable part of this season, and I would encourage you to slow down, look up every once in a while, take in your surroundings, and enjoy it. It's, well, um.... it's wonderful.

Michael Alcorn is a teacher and writer who lives in Arvada with his wife and three children. His novels are available at MichaelJAlcorn.com

 

 

from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/The-best-part-of-the-season-is-wonder-the-kind-that-children-display,240200