Work 3: Wonder

When is it that wonder finally gets kicked out of us? When is it that we no longer stand in awe of the beauty of creation, or we no longer take delight in the small things? When does a flower just become another flower and not a magical creation vivid in colour to be picked and handed to our Mother (and it doesn't matter that someone else calls it a weed)? Is it the regimented school system that does this, or the tired parent who fails to respond. If we survive those, is it the workplace that finally destroys the sense of wonder?

Over the weekend we shifted the orientation of my 4 year old's bed in his room - he was absolutely delighted by something new. My hope and prayer is that he will never lose that sense of wonder.

Nowadays the workplace has become a place where only routine and efficiency are praised. There is little or no room to take the time to revel in wonder. Creativity is stymied by bureaucracy and the headlong rush into conformity. Computers lead the way .... conform to Microsoft rules or suffer. Every workplace is branded so that bar the title and name everyone's business cards look the same. There is no place for individuality. Once they talked of the factories of Britain as "Dark Satanic Mills" - now our offices may be clean but they are still dark, sanitized of wonder and humaneness.

It is the uniqueness of the individual that makes us human. It is the ability to stop and marvel at each other and creation that distinguishes us from machines and beasts. We must find ways to regain wonder in the workplace. Perhaps when you next look on your colleague you'll wonder at their uniqueness. Perhaps you will stop and wonder at the creativity of those who produce the office furniture or the bravery of those who first mined for the metals in the paper clip. Perhaps you'll just rearrange your desk and luxuriate in the change. Seek out on opportunity to regain some of that wonder of your childhood.

"Lift up thine eyes to the coming of the King"