The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting in God

by Christine Aroney-Sine

Publisher:

IVP Formatio

, 2019

Overview

• 2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalists - Body, Mind and Spirit

I choose to breathe in the wonder of God’s eternal love, And dance to the rhythm of eternal breath,Listening to the whispers calling me to slow down and take notice. I choose to absorb the beauty of the divine presence,to delight in the Creator of all things and relish the delight God takes in me.Can you imagine a God who dances with shouts of joy, laughs when you laugh, loves to play, enjoys life, and invites us to join the fun? Like many of us, Christine Sine had spent many years with an image of God who was “a very serious, workaholic type of God.” And even when her theology told her this was not true, she struggled to live into this new way of thinking. What she needed was a childlike spirituality.In this book, Christine Sine, online host of the Godspace community, invites us to pay attention to childlike characteristics that have the power to reshape us. Each chapter addresses a childlike characteristic to embrace, including delight, playfulness, imagination, awe and wonder, love of nature, the ability to live in the present, and much more. Fresh spiritual practices that engage all our senses help us live a new spiritual life that embraces the wonder and joy that God intends for us.

Contents

Introduction
1. Delight Yourself in God
Practice—Choose Joy
2. Open Yourself to Awe and Wonder
Practice—Ten Miracles Before Breakfast
3. Let Your Life Speak
Practice—Listen to Your Life
4. Unleash Your Inner Child
Practice—Plan a Playdate
5. Set Your Imagination Free
Practice—Read a Children’s Book
6. Give Yourself the Gift of Curiosity
Practice—Walk a Finger Labyrinth
7. Remember We Are Earthlings
Practice—Seed Bomb Our Neighborhoods
8. Return to the Rhythm of Life
Practice—Have Fun with Leaves
9. Rest in the Moment
Practice—Walking in Circles
10. Cultivate Gratitude
Practice—Plan a Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
11. See Things Differently
Practice—Make a Rainbow
12. Stay Close to the Cracks
Practice—Shine Light in the Cracks
13. Come to the Table
Practice—Welcome to the Manger
14. Embrace Trust
Practice—Braid the Cords Together
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Guidelines for Leading a Group
Creative Practices
Notes

Praise for The Gift of Wonder

"Christine Aroney-Sine’s new book is as delightful as its subject. Full of invitations to pleasure, rejoicing, and play, it celebrates a truly incarnational spirituality that reflects God’s exuberant yes to all of creation."

"Spiritual practice is designed to awaken us to God’s presence, but it need not be boring. Aroney-Sine has produced a brave work here, inviting spiritual seekers to become like children—playful, curious, and trusting. With Aroney-Sine’s guidance and support you will discover the God who delights in you and unlock a wellspring of joy."

"Once after baptizing some young children, I invited them to splash in the baptismal font and even splash the congregation a bit too. . . . In The Gift of Wonder, Christine Aroney-Sine is pointing to those splashing in the water inviting us to do more of the same in order to be more of what God intends for us to be."

"Jesus talks about childlike trust in God. The apostle Paul writes about compassion and thankfulness. These themes play a big role in Christine Aroney-Sine’s new book. Using stories from the Bible, creative exercises, reflection questions, and her own beautiful poems, Christine addresses the questions of how we can bring joy to God and how we can live out the Christian faith as a journey of discovery. The topics of her book—awe, play, curiosity, creativity, imagination, adventure, and wonder—bring balm to the soul in this age of fear and polarization. She guides us on pathways to experience God’s generous gifts and to grow in contentment and peace in Christ."

"Christine Aroney-Sine has always provided a consistently prophetic voice that is edged with intelligence and grace and enfolded in an active spirituality of discipleship. This book continues in that vein. The Gift of Wonder takes the reader on a journey of discovery through the integration of goodness, beauty, and truth. A great read."

"There’s a deep desire among so many people I work with as a spiritual director and pastor to connect with God in a new way, to get out of their heads and into their bodies and hearts, to lighten up and play, to experience joy and healing. Christine Aroney-Sine is one of my favorite writers and practitioners because she brings things to life in simple yet profound ways; The Gift of Wonder is a wonderful mix of accessible spiritual practices, stories, and hope for those who long to experience the kingdom of God here—now. I have no doubt it will rekindle delight and ignite our sense of wonder for all who engage with it."

"In a culture that values adulthood it will stretch us to explore Jesus’ crucial observation that we can only enter the kingdom through childlikeness. To explore that strange reality we’ll need some friends on the journey. Christine Aroney-Sine is such a friend, inviting us into the kind of rich, whole-person communal engagement with God we knew as children. If you join her on this playful, messy, wonder-full adventure, you might never be the same again!"

"The Gift of Wonder is a joyful and profoundly serious invitation to get dirty and play with the Creator. This book makes me want to get outside, take out some art supplies, become curious, and experience divine delight! If you are craving a fresh approach to connecting with God, this book will ignite your imagination and inspire you to explore new life-giving practices."

"As a pastor committed to the spiritual nurture and formation of my congregation, this book is a dream resource. Christine Aroney-Sine doesn’t just recover the by now familiar ground of spiritual practices laid out by others, she brings to bear research, commentary, story, and practical experience that make her contemporary take on these practices (and the large number of new practices she offers) applicable to a huge range of settings, learning styles, and intelligences. A rare strength of what she offers is that it isn’t a soft spirituality but a robust approach that has something in it for men as well as women. Any individual, group, or leader will find creative inspiration and sustenance to flourish in this book."

"For many, the term spiritual disciplines conjures thoughts of monotonous practices performed alone and by rote, but not for Christine Aroney-Sine. With her usually exuberant style she reimagines the spiritual practices as communal activities that restore the intense joy and unbridled enthusiasm God wants for all followers. The Gift of Wonder is indeed a gift for anyone wanting to explore more creative approaches to the spiritual disciplines. The exercises and prayers are worth the price of admission alone."

Product Details

• Title : The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting in God
• Author: Aroney-Sine, Christine
• Publisher: IVP Books
• Publication Date: 2019
• ISBN: 9780830871582

About Christine Aroney-Sine

Christine Aroney-Sine is the founder and facilitator for God Space, an online community that grew out of her passion for creative spirituality, gardening, and sustainability. She and her husband, Tom, are cofounders of Mustard Seed Associates. Christine trained as a physician in Australia, practiced in New Zealand, and developed and directed the healthcare ministry for Mercy Ships. Her books include Rest in the Moment, Return to Our Senses, GodSpace, and Tales of a Seasick Doctor.