A Sense of Wonder

"It's hard to elicit a sense of wonder from adults," a video game creator was recently quoted as saying in Fast Company magazine. That got me thinking. Do I have a sense of wonderment? What creates wonder in me?

The answer came quickly--the rain forest is where I find wonderment. It's why we moved to Costa Rica, in fact. I wanted to live a life of wonderment and do it with my kids, who happen to find endless wonder in the same place as I.

Several months ago Steve and I were leading a retreat group on an exploration of Arenal Volcano. Our guide spotted an enormous toucan in a treetop, which resulted in 16 pairs of binoculars being plastered to faces, including my own. I've seen dozens of toucans, but I never tire of their magnificence. One woman in the group, however, simply kept walking, impatient to get to wherever she thought we were going. "I've seen a toucan," she muttered, annoyed that everyone was taking the time to admire this creature. Right then I thought to myself: "I hope I NEVER loose the thrill of seeing a toucan in the wild!" While I was incredulous at this woman's indfference to the literal wonders of nature, I also came to understand that one person's wonderment is not another's.

What creates a sense of wonder in you?

World Rain Forest Week

Next week (October 12-18) is World Rain Forest Week.

View the newest Super Natural Adventures webisode, "Rain Forest Exploration." www.supernaturaladventures.com and take a virtual trip to this precious world resource with SNA host Will Jacobus and his 4th grade classmates.

You'll learn what makes a rain forest and why they are important to the world, meet some rain forest animals and plants, and find out what is threatening our globe's rain forests. Entertaining, educational and fun, all in one. Enjoy!