Wonder and Mystery in Human Becoming

We are all in the process of becoming.

I have a love/ hate relationship with winter. I hate the cold and the brutalness of living in Northwest Pennsylvania. I usually do a winter race, sometime in January and February and usually kick myself for doing so. I ran a race a few years ago when I was early in my ultra-running career. It was 7 degrees at the start and 10 by the end. I think I did a half marathon, I was shooting for a full marathon, but I was ridiculously cold. I was wearing those stupid five finger shoes. The next year I did the race; it was 65 degrees. My favorite cold weather race was the 2020 running of the Beast of Burden winter race in Lockport, NY. It was 25 miles, and I remember when I was done, I had forgotten my sunglasses, so on top of being snow blind, I had hypothermia for about 30 minutes after the race. Eventually, I warmed up but, I could not stop shaking because I was so cold. Training for these events was equally miserable. But in the training, I learned resiliency, toughness and understanding that no matter how tough you think you are, you are always the weakest link in the outdoors and like in other bad weather situations, you learn about the fragility of life and how to take it more seriously.  

I recently finally gave in and bought the expensive jacket that has been on my mind for years. As I think contemplatively about what winter is, it’s long sleep, i find myself considering the wonder and mystery of our human becoming.  

As I look out of my office, I look out on a landscape of stark, quiet and persistent chill. I am constantly reminded of this time of year of the powerful symbol winter plays in reminding us of life’s necessary pauses and transitions. The season’s stillness invites us to slow down, reflect, and recognize that growth often happens beneath the surface, in moments when nothing appears to be changing. By leaning into this quiet—rather than resisting it—we open ourselves to deeper self-discovery, allowing insights and strengths to emerge that are easily overlooked in busier times. Embracing winter’s pause teaches us the value of patience and the importance of honoring each phase of our journey, reminding us that transformation is not always visible, but is always unfolding within. 

Winter is not an end, just like some obstacles in life that stop us dead in our tracks. Winter is also not the beginning. Every day is just that, a day that has arrived, filling us with both the same boring stuff and opportunities as yesterday, but it is also a day full of possibilities. When we embrace the spiritual practices of wonder and mystery each day, our becoming becomes richer, livelier, more profound.   

Human Becoming 

Perhaps my favorite thing I get to teach my students and challenge them on is the notion of being verses becoming. Being on one hand refers to the state of absolute, unchanging reality, substance, or essence. It is the concept of permanence—the idea that something truly is in a fixed, eternal way, regardless of time or observation. Becoming on the other hand refers to state of change, flux, movement, and development. It is the concept that reality is not fixed, but is a continuous process of growth, decay, and transformation. 

Considering both thoughts above, I want to suggest an emphasis on the latter, we are all in the process of becoming, we are all human becomings (not to be confused with Parse’s nursing theory). Everyone is on a journey of personal growth and development, continually evolving and learning throughout life. It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the experiences that shape us as individuals. 

Every obstacle is a mystery, and we must cultivate a childlike sense of wonder over anger or even seeing the obstacle as a static state of existence (being). Humans are constantly moving beyond the present. This involves powering (a process of pushing and resisting, affirmed by suffering and joy) and originating (the creative unfolding of novel ways of living). This demonstrates the human capacity to create unique ways of living (self-transcendence). 

Cultivating Mystery and Wonder 

Earlier this year, I offered these thoughts around Mystery, reflecting on the work of Joan Chittester: “mystery happens when we allow life to evolve rather than having to make it happen.” Sitting with mystery is an act of becoming. It challenges us to let go of our “should’s, ought’s and musts”. It allows us to recognize the absurdity of life and deeply engage with the mystery of God’s presence, love and grace. 

Combined with wonder, I reflect on these previous thoughts: We must let everyday be a new day.  It does not matter if you have been at the same job for a long time, I have been in my current job almost 10 years. I try and find surprises in my job every day, I try and cherish every laugh, every tear, every surprise, and every setback with my clients.   

Obstacles are places to grow, and they help us in our human becoming. In my post on wonder, I offer Thich Nhat Hahn’s morning meditation thought: “Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.”  Every moment is an opportunity to practice.  

Rather than getting frustrated with the slow plow truck in front of you (as I did this morning, we must begrudgingly at times look at these experiences not only with the eyes of compassion, but also with eyes of curiosity. Life is not just a moment of being, it is moments of becoming. I have never had a day that was exactly how the day before went.  

Closing 

To close my reflections, I find that the tension between comfort and growth is an intricate dance—my new jacket, for instance, offers warmth and security on winter’s harshest days, embodying a gentle act of self-care. However, I often tell my clients that it is when we step beyond our comfort zones, venturing into cold unknowns or enduring discomfort, that we encounter the richest lessons and the deepest transformation. Small rituals of self-care—whether it’s bundling up before heading out, pausing for a nourishing meal, or simply allowing ourselves moments of rest—become the foundation that supports our courage to face life’s uncertainties. These acts don’t shield us from challenge, but rather, they bolster our resilience, reminding us that nurturing ourselves and embracing vulnerability can coexist. In this way, comfort and growth are not adversaries, but partners in our ongoing journey of becoming, enabling us to meet mystery with both steadiness and curiosity.