Christopher de Vinck Reflects on the Power of Childhood Awe
Opinion writer and author Christopher de Vinck has released a new commentary exploring the diminishing capacity for wonder in adults compared to the effortless awe experienced by children. The piece, published recently by the USA TODAY Network and The Dallas Morning News, argues that while adults often require grand spectacles to feel amazed, children find profound beauty in the ordinary.
De Vinck opens his reflection by citing the 1964 film Mary Poppins, noting how the children in the movie were elated by a flying nanny, a sentiment he contrasts with modern adult cynicism. He suggests that adults have become desensitized to the world, now requiring “20-foot-high inflatable reindeer” or the acrobatics of Cirque du Soleil to feel the same excitement a child feels when seeing a frog or using a pencil for the first time. He questions if adults have become too cynical or if they simply take the mechanics of daily life for granted.
To illustrate his point, de Vinck shares a personal anecdote involving his 4-year-old granddaughter, Indigo. Upon picking her up from preschool on a rainy day, he brought a random purple umbrella from his closet. Indigo’s reaction was one of unbridled joy; she exclaimed, “It’s beautiful!” treating the common object with the reverence one might reserve for a magical artifact. This interaction served as a stark reminder to the author that children view the world with “new eyes,” whereas adults often view their surroundings with “ho-hum eyes.”
The commentary digs deeper into the nature of observation, with de Vinck admitting that he still cultivates his own sense of wonder. He describes watching planes fly over his home near Newark International Airport, remaining amazed by the heavy machinery’s ability to stay aloft. He also marvels at the physics of snowflakes, which travel miles from the sky to the ground, yet are often ignored by those rushing through their day.
Critics of this romanticized view might argue that the loss of awe is a necessary adaptation for survival and efficiency in the adult world. Constantly marveling at common objects like umbrellas or pencils could be seen as impractical for individuals managing complex responsibilities. However, de Vinck counters this potential objection by implying that the loss of wonder leads to a spiritual or emotional poverty. He references historical context, noting that critics once ridiculed Claude Monet’s Water Lilies and the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, failing to see the beauty that is now universally acknowledged.
Christopher de Vinck is a veteran educator and the author of 16 books, including the award-winning The Power of the Powerless. His writing frequently touches on themes of faith, family, and the resilience of the human spirit. His work serves as a call to reclaim the ability to see the “miraculous” in the mundane, suggesting that the capacity for awe is not lost, but merely dormant beneath layers of adult routine and cynicism.
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