Wonder needs a witness.My friend Sarah and I have grown fond of repeating that phrase at certain moments to one another. I can’t recall where we first encountered it. I think it came from a book we were both reading, and to be honest it’s quite unusual that it has had such an impact on me and yet I don’t remember its source. But that’s ok. I always try to give credit where credit is due but in the end I think the author would be pleased that we’ve welcomed it into our souls and own it now for ourselves.Wonder needs a witness.I can’t tell you everything it means. I’m still unpacking it. And what it means keeps shifting and changing, especially this time of year. I can only tell you what it means today.“Wonder needs a witness,” means that this incredible gift of life wasn’t meant to be lived alone. Special things, especially wondrous things, have a way of foaming up and spilling over in us as if they cannot remain inside one person alone. They must be shared.“Wonder needs a witness,” often means, “Wow, isn’t this special? I’m glad we’re here together.”“Wonder needs a witness,” is a way of reminding each other that no matter how far you’ve come and how much you’ve seen and done, there’s always more. Always something new. Always a reason to be here one more day. There’s always hope hiding in the next sunrise.When I get down on myself. When I question my worth, my purpose, whether I’ve done enough, become enough, “Wonder needs a witness,” reminds me that perhaps it’s enough that I’m here just to see it all. The stars of whose substance I am composed, the earth from which I sprang forth and to which I will soon enough return, perhaps the universe itself, they all know how amazing it is to be, and I think they groan to give birth to witnesses to share in that wonder. Perhaps it’s enough to simply be here and take notice.Today, “Wonder needs a witness,” means I am here to be with Tina. She is my person. She is my favorite human being. She is a quiet, fierce, funny, guileless wonder. Her constant, unfailing, unassuming strength holds our family together in ways we’ve all come to depend upon but do not acknowledge enough. We take her for granted in all the best ways and for all the best reasons but it’s her birthday weekend and so my job is a simple one: to take notice. She is a wonder, and wonder needs a witness.The point is, life is full of innumerable wonders of every imaginable kind—both big and small, grandiose and unassuming. If you were to accept the role of witness, if you made it your life’s goal to notice, then no matter what else is happening in this world—the pain, the strife, the hate and hopelessness, the chaos and confusion—you could rise above it. The witnesses of wonder always have hope for tomorrow for there is so much wonder to witness.You will never lack for purpose. You will always need today and tomorrow and every moment in-between. More time to discover more wonder. More to build yourself a beautiful life.