"If the wilderness wandering we read about in Scripture were reframed as a time of wonder, it would be an entirely different experience! I see the difference between wandering and wondering like this:
"Wandering is a coping mechanism of avoidance that tries to minimize what is uncomfortable.
"Wondering is an active pursuit of questions and a willingness to risk the tension in the unknown.
"Wandering is a way to steer clear of the stress that comes from a deep concern about the direction that might be best for you and others around you.
"Wondering is a heightened curiosity about God, yourself, others, and the world that, while often uncomfortable, is full of passion and intrigue.
"Wandering is motivated by fear, confusion, apathy, and an endless search for novelty.
"Wondering is motivated by passionate uncertainty about the mystery of God and the excitement that comes with discovery.
"Throughout the story, God was inviting a different approach. And God still offers that invitation to us — to take on a posture of wonder.
"Wonder that fuels our passion and leads to discovery. Wonder that pushes us to even deeper questions and away from pat answers. God is calling us not to satisfying contentment but to deeper meaning-making experiences — the kind of experiences that bring a community or a family closer together rather than further apart. The kind of journey that invites the courage to risk and squelches apathy.
"With questions propelling us along the way, we wonder through the woods rather than wander."
