1. What do you think D.H. Laurence means when he describes wonder as the “natural religious sense?”
2. Why do you think it is that wonderful things are often born out of times of stuckness and hardship?
3. Have you ever felt the life force of something in nature as the woman did with the tree? Share the story.
4. Where in everyday life do you experience wonder such as in the garden, listening to music, or in time with family or community?
Possible Practices
1. Keep a "wonder" journal. At the end of each day, write down three wonders you have observed.
2. Practice looking for wonders, miracles, or signs in songs you hear on the radio, images you see on the Internet, or something similar to Frederick Buechner getting a message from a license plate.
3. Have a conversation with your partner or a friend about some wonders you share in common.
Visit the Wonder homepage for more ways to practice this spiritual quality. Follow the links in the left column to:
- a collection of quotations on compassion
- book recommendations
- book excerpts and teaching stories
- film recommendations
- music and art meditations
- a daily cue, reminder, vow, and blessing for compassion
- a prayer or mantra
- personal explorations including imagery and journal exercises
- practices and spiritual exercises
- questions for discussion, storytelling, sharing
- take action with household, group, and community projects
- and more
Prepared by Persephone Zill with contributions from Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
