Wonder July 2016Weavings July 2016 newsletter - "Wonder" Upper Room Publishing from Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 19 July 2016
Wonder and God by John S. Mogabgab
On the seismograph of the soul, wonder registers any experience that immeasurably transends commonsense expectations. Usually this signifies that God is nearby.
Indeed, when the mystery and glory of God becomes visible to us, we tumble into wonder. The Bible is full of such moments. Moses descends from Mount Sinai, his face aglow with God's presence, and the people are seized by awe (Exodus 34:29-35). On Mount Tabor Jesus shines with unearthly splendor and Peter blurts out, "Master, it is good for us to be here" (Luke 9:33).
Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus himself did not change on Tabor. Rather, the eyes of the disciples were opened to see truly the stunning reality of Jesus' identity. So with us, the freshening dew of grace cleanses and clarifies our vision, allowing us to recognize the luminous presence of God in the midst of an opaque creation.[From "Editor's Introduction," Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life, Vol. XX, No. 1 (January/February 2005), (Nashville,TN: The Upper Room, 2005), 2-3.]
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From the Well Podcasts
Episode 10: All In: Experiencing God's Friendship in a Broken World
Drink deeply of a sampling of what The Academy for Spiritual Formation faculty can offer you as a participant.
This podcast features Trevor Hudson and Safiyah Fosua exploring the way of radical friendship.
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The Gift of Wonder by Elizabeth Canham
We need the gift of imagination if we are to see and hear God in the world about us. Poetry, art, and music can take us to places that literal and scientific truth cannot. This is not to deny the importance of research and scholarship, but it invites us to reclaim the wisdom of our own creativity. I do not literally believe that God is "up there," racing across the sky in a convertible. But when I gaze reverently at the changes in the clouds moved by wind, I do lift my soul to the Creator. And sometimes, like Charlie Brown, I see some fastastical creatures in the clouds, and I giggle with delight because it seems that God has fun with creation. Why else would we see long-necked giraffes, elephants using their long noses to suck up water, camels with lumps on their backs, and so many other curious creatures? ...
A sense of wonder is God's gift to us. Do we pause long enough to grasp the awesomeness of creation?[From Finding Your Voice in the Psalms: An Invitation to Honest Prayer (Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2013), p. 62.]
The Gift of Wonder by Elizabeth Canham
We need the gift of imagination if we are to see and hear God in the world about us. Poetry, art, and music can take us to places that literal and scientific truth cannot. This is not to deny the importance of research and scholarship, but it invites us to reclaim the wisdom of our own creativity. I do not literally believe that God is "up there," racing across the sky in a convertible. But when I gaze reverently at the changes in the clouds moved by wind, I do lift my soul to the Creator. And sometimes, like Charlie Brown, I see some fastastical creatures in the clouds, and I giggle with delight because it seems that God has fun with creation. Why else would we see long-necked giraffes, elephants using their long noses to suck up water, camels with lumps on their backs, and so many other curious creatures? ...
A sense of wonder is God's gift to us. Do we pause long enough to grasp the awesomeness of creation?[From Finding Your Voice in the Psalms: An Invitation to Honest Prayer (Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2013), p. 62.]
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"At moments of wonder, it is easy to avoid small thinking, to entertain thoughts that span the universe, that capture both thunder and tinkle, thick and thin, the near and the far."[Yann Martel, The Life of Pi]
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This monthly newsletter is a free service of Weavings/The Upper Room in partnership with The Academy for Spiritual Formation.
Back issues of Weavings are available while supplies last!
Order back issues
"At moments of wonder, it is easy to avoid small thinking, to entertain thoughts that span the universe, that capture both thunder and tinkle, thick and thin, the near and the far."[Yann Martel, The Life of Pi]
"Like" Weavings and continue to follow Weavings on Facebook!
Follow the Weavings Twitter feed Daily Office.
Share this email:
Weavings: Upper Room Publishing
1908 Grand Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37212, United States
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