I stepped out of my office the other day and caught sight of a young boy standing triumphantly atop a play castle. His face was alive. Radiant with passion and unshakable determination. Alone on his make-shift fortress, he gripped a stick as though it were Excalibur itself, his small frame radiating the authority of a knight on a sacred quest.
From my hidden vantage point behind the wall, I watched as he raised the stick high into the sky. The world seemed to go quiet, as if waiting for his proclamation. With every ounce of his 8-year-old resolve, he bellowed into the heavens with the conviction of a hero from an ancient tale:
“I will find you!”
And for a moment, I believed he would.
Albert Schweitzer wrote, “The great tragedy in life is not that we die, but what dies inside of us while we live.” It’s a stark observation of the quiet ways we lose pieces of ourselves—our wonder, our hope, and even our sense of purpose—as the years press on. The world can feel heavy, full of disappointments and unanswered prayers, and the spark that once lit up the soul slowly dims. But what if this death inside us is not the end, but the beginning? What if something in us needs to die so that something greater—something freer—can take root?
The Loss of Wonder in a Disappointing World
Life is filled with unmet expectations. We enter it with wide eyes and big dreams, only to find that reality often doesn’t match the script we wrote for ourselves. Blaise Pascal captured this tension well when he wrote, “We desire truth and find in ourselves nothing but uncertainty. We seek happiness and find only misery and death.” It’s easy to see how disillusionment sneaks in and smothers our joy.
Philip Yancey, in his book Disappointed with God, reminds us that this is not a new struggle. He writes, “Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” Disappointment is not the absence of God’s work in our lives but a reminder that our perspective is limited. Even in the midst of brokenness, something greater may be unfolding.
The Paradox of Death and Rebirth
The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously said, “To live is to suffer; to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” That meaning is often born in the tension between death and rebirth. Jesus spoke of this paradox when He said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24).
What dies in us—our expectations, pride, or even certain dreams—is not always meant to be resurrected. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours.” Surrendering our grip on what was or what could have been opens the door for what God is doing. Death is painful, but it’s also the soil where transformation begins.
Hope After the Dying
When despair feels overwhelming, it’s easy to think all is lost. But the death of one thing—an old dream, a false identity, or even pride—can make space for something greater to grow. As the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Let the dying of false hopes and temporary illusions give way to a new life rooted in wonder, joy, and purpose. It’s not an easy journey, but it’s one worth taking. As Schweitzer so powerfully observed, tragedy is not found in death itself but in the parts of us that die long before the end. Let those parts go, making room for the resurrection of something far greater.
Rekindling Wonder and Hope
To reclaim wonder in the midst of disappointment, intentional practices are needed. Here are a few to try:
Embrace Daily Gratitude
Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic philosopher, advised, “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” Start a habit of listing three things daily that inspire gratitude. Even small joys—a warm cup of coffee or the laugh of a child—reignite a sense of wonder.
Engage with Scripture and Prayer
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness allows space for God’s voice to speak into the cracks of disappointment. Pair this with Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure… think about such things.” Reframe your thoughts toward what builds up.
Look Beyond Yourself
In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” Engaging with others—whether through service, community, or encouragement—often awakens dormant hope within ourselves.
Let Go of What No Longer Serves You
Rumi, the poet, wrote, “Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead, let life live through you. And do not worry that your life is turning upside down. How do you know that the side you are used to is better than the one to come?” Letting go of what feels safe can make room for the new and unexpected.
Until next time,Simeon
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