Words of Wisdom

Anonymous

In our day and age, you hear countless people repeat or come up with different sayings that can be applicable to our lives. These sayings can lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves and how we are called to live. The biggest obstacle that we face when we read or listen to these sayings is being able to open our minds in hearts in a way that we can allow ourselves to positively be impacted by those sayings that are rooted in truth, beauty, and goodness. By being open to these three characteristics, they will, in turn, lead us closer to God. Throughout my own life, I have heard sayings that have stayed with me and made a profound impact. One, in particular, has stayed with me throughout the past few months that I would like to share with you.  

This quote is by the famous Catholic writer, J.R.R Tolkien. In the Return of the King, Tolkien’s character Legolas says, “do not spoil the wonder with haste!” This quote is said in the context of a discussion regarding an opportunity for part of the company to visit caves in the mountains. However, they do not have time to enjoy the beauty of the caves fully. Legolas instead would rather come back on a later date to take the necessary time to appreciate the beauty of the cave. By rushing the exploratory process, it takes away from experience one has of seeing it for the first time. 

Our lives are so dependent on time. We are constantly scheduling, rescheduling, or cramming our lives with unnecessary distractions that take away from the beauty of what our lives are called to be. Oftentimes, we find ourselves so caught up in things that are so unnecessary because the world teaches us that we must always be working or doing something to occupy the time. 

From my own experience, some of life’s most significant events occur when you stop and let God lead you. We feel the need to constantly have everything in our life planned out because we have been raised in a culture that teaches us that it is the only way to live. 

From my personal experience, the questions that I dread the most are those that beg the question of what I may be doing in the future. The problem with plans or answers to these particular questions is that God may have another idea for you in mind. We try so hard to develop the plans for our life so quickly that we forget to enjoy the time that God has given us at the moment in which we are in right now. Yes, it doesn’t hurt to have a plan in mind, but we must ensure we recognize that God is in complete control of the outcome. Instead of being hasty and taking the time to map out what your future may look like ten years from now, take the time to enjoy the world around you that will not look the same tomorrow or in ten years. 

The wonder of the world around us has been given to us by God, and this creation is the evidence of his love for us. These are things that are rooted in truth, beauty, and goodness. Each and every day, the sun rises and sets just like the day before, but what is different between yesterday, today, and tomorrow is the way the sky looks. Some days it can be orange, and another day it can be a bright pink color, but the one thing to remember is that the sky will never look the same way twice. Every day is a new creation and a gift from God as a symbol of his love for us, and this why it is essential to not “spoil the wonder with haste.” God may have a plan already established for you that is unlike your own, or he may have a new sight for you to see, but whatever it may be, open your heart up to the possibility of God bringing joy and wonder into your life. I pray that you don’t spend your days in the future but rather in anticipation of whatever God may have in store for you. Because even in darkness, one may still be able to see stars, and even after a storm, there may come a rainbow.