Jumpstarting Grown-Up Wonder: Tarsem Singh's "The Fall"

January 21, 2011 by Joseph Susanka

Continued from Page 1

The imagined worlds of young children are, in many ways, more spectacular because of their lack of experience rather than in spite of it. There is a reason we often describe wonder as "childlike," and it is a mistake for us adults, grown wise in the ways of the world, to equate experience with depth. Age and experience seems to muddle and dim, rather than enlarge and clarify our imaginings. Cynicism, rationalization, excessive literalness (and an accompanying lack of vibrancy and excitement) are far more likely to afflict us as we grow older than is an excessive sense of wonderment and child-like joy.

To embrace maturity at the expense of wonder would be a terrible mistake, yet it is a mistake that modern society makes with regularity. Our adult instinct is to reject the fantastical and wonder-filled for more "grounded" pursuits, but the Socratic suggestion that wisdom ushers in wonder should give us pause. As Chesterton reminds us, "The world will never starve for want of wonders, but only for want of wonder." And it is that warning that lies at the heart of The Fall.

Alexandria is struggling to save Roy, though not through the medical means he desires or expects. She is saving him by giving back to him that which he has lost so many years before, allowing him to rethink, re-envision, and rekindle his own dreams through the clear, wondering eyes of a child.

Christ's remonstration that we become like little children for the sake of our salvation speaks to the trust and confidence we should have in Him, and on how completely and innocently we are to rely on His Divine Providence.

But perhaps it is also a gentle reminder to recognize (and savor) the wonderful, fantastical world in which He has placed us.

We could all do with a little more wonder.

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About Joseph Susanka

Joseph Susanka has been doing development work for institutions of Catholic higher education since his graduation from Thomas Aquinas College in 1999. He blogs at Crisis Magazine, where he also contributes feature articles on a variety of topics.

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