THE WONDER OF BUGS

When I talk about Wee Three, its meaning to me and what I hope it will mean to others, I always write and talk about the innocence of childhood. When in fact many have not had the greatest childhoods, many children go to bed hungry, live in war torn countries with their innocence ripped from them before they are old enough to even know the world.
It is not that I am unaware that this is happening. It is that I choose to try to bring lightness of spirit back into our society and world. To bring an acceptance of each other whatever our differences, to find a way for all of us to find the place inside ourselves of joy, innocence and a place of reclaiming and relearning what we can be.
Our world has gotten too serious, focusing on all the blight, problems and stress. Many have forgotten the simple joy of a walk in the rain. Jumping in puddles, watching a bug and really seeing it as if for the first time, not as a nuisance but as another creature on our planet, and trying to figure out what the bug is up to.
Each species has its place in our world and without one of them our world would be different. Now in the case of bugs some would say this would be a good thing. Yet without them we would be wallowing in a world filled to the brim with dead trees, plants, food and an assortment of other trash.
We may look on that bug only for the trouble it may cause us. When in fact we should see it for what it is a helper in life. It may appear ugly to our eyes, yet beauty is in the eye of the beholder and to another of its species it may be the most beautiful.
Do you find a bug a nuisance? Can you look beyond the problems it may cause you temporarily and see that it has a place? Can you see its beauty and wonder what it does and why it does it?

Let me know what you think? Is there a bug that you like? Do you consider them all a nuisance or are there some that you can find beautiful?

Wondering

The other day on Twitter my friend @TheFourOrders asked me if we had lost our wonder? I began thinking of all the times I have spent watching the stars, listening to the wind move through the trees.

The moments spent making cloud pictures, finding a new bug that I had never seen before and marveling about its beauty. Sitting and listening to the stories of my parents, the elders in our community or watching people walk their dogs.

It also made me think of what television or playing video games is making us lose. The trips to the mall that are taken, not because we need something but as a means of entertainment.

And I realized that a part of the meaning of Wee Three is its ability to help us to remember the simpler times. The games of our youth, and the joy and wonder that children are born with.

Somewhere along the way it seems we as a society have lost our ability to find this wonder and joy. Can we remember, can we reclaim it?

WONDERING

Have we lost our ability?
To find the wonder in the day?

To look upon the sky so fair,
Make pictures from the clouds above.

Watch the gentle breeze blow the leaves,
Hear the calm voices of the trees.

Pet a dog or watch a kitten,
Open our hearts to see their joy.

Can we still sit so quietly?
Listening to the birds in song.

Do we still see the miracles?
In the uncomplicated things.

Where is the time to watch the stars?
Or see the moonlight shine so bright.

Anger and tension fills our lives.
Killing us with the fear and stress.

No time left to teach our children,
See the glory and the wonder.

Trouble-free, fun and banter too,
All the natural, simple play.

Is it worth the fury and strain?
We give ourselves and children too.

Are we losing our precious time?
With all the running to and fro.

Where has all of life’s glory gone?
Can we reclaim our wonder now?

Copyrighted 2011 Marta Moran-Bishop


Wee Three is a book of verse and memories. But it is also a means to regain and to share that innocence and joy we had as a child. My hope is that in its pages people will find a way to remember the times before the mall or shopping became our means of entertainment. And we as a society will begin to look once again at the pure innocent wonder that life has for us.

What do you all think? Can we as a society reclaim our sense of wonder? Can we help our children to find fun in simple, natural play again?