Some Awe Left
Fearing the unknown? Find the beauty in mystery
What is there about a good mystery novel or enthralling, an investigative thriller that captivates the human mind? Look at some of television’s most popular shows: NCIS, Law and Order, or Blacklist. Though these shows’ can contain disturbing or wince-worthy content, their ratings continue to rise.
Audiences love stories that build-up, keep us guessing, and force us to calculate the outcome. Eyes wide and bodies leaned forward, it's unmistakable that people love a good mystery.
The ever-wondering child goes out of his way to discover on his own the mysteries which occupy his mind, thus fostering not only curiosity but also the awesomeness of the discovery.
Even as children, we gathered around a magician to witness the magic. The child knows not where the mysterious magic comes from or how, yet we continue to watch in awe. Whatever captivates our attention and makes us wonder, always seems to have at least a hint of mystery to it. We haven’t lost our appetite for mystery, but is mystery slowly dying?
Take all social media platforms and describe what they all do: They all tell a story in different ways. Whether it’s Instagram with pictures or Twitter with words, these outlets outline our daily lives, thoughts, ideas, and beliefs to the world. If I am wondering what my ex-girlfriend did over the weekend, there is a high chance she announced it via her Instagram or Snapchat story.
Maybe even through a post, if it was a good enough picture. Everyone knows everything about everyone via social media: Occupation, relationship status, or latest political stance. Think about going on a date. You most likely look the person up on Instagram before or after, gaining who knows what insights from their profile. No need to find out for yourself in person, just keep on scrolling.
It’s almost impossible to not discover something with a quick search. We can know anything about everything with the resources of modern technology. But, is that really the best thing for us? Is there some benefit from leaving things unknown? Can we be okay not knowing everything?
The ever-wondering child goes out of his way to discover on his own the mysteries which occupy his mind, thus fostering not only curiosity but also the awesomeness of the discovery. We no longer have to go out and do the searching because someone else has done it for us.
They yearn to discover with our own hands dissipates as our curiosity is immediately satisfied with a quick google search of someone else’s research. Where is the ownership in solving life’s mysteries by our own means?
Although salvaging the child-like enamor of searching for answers is valuable, there is benefit in allowing unknowns to stay undiscovered. In every religion or belief system there is an awe factor: Awe of science, the awe of the inner self, the awe of God, the awe of… The list goes on. Humans are searching for something bigger and greater than ourselves. Everyone loves to be wooed or taken aback by something amazing and beautiful.
When you look at the Red Rocks of Sedona, the aqua water of the Napali Coast, or see the mountainous abundance of Patagonia, it’s jaw-dropping. The mystery to their magnificence calls for reverence and respect. If we embrace the unknown, the mysteries behind beauty, we can foster the awe that calls us to discover more. The desire that pulls us to search is more important than knowing all the answers.
©Maddy Roh 2020
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
