Each issue of SND USA Magazine will now include a feature article on spirituality by a guest writer. We hope you find the words inspiring, insightful, and encouraging.
Nourishing Our Sense of Wonder
A woman, living on the shores of Lake Huron, had her three-year-old grandson visiting for Christmas. One morning the two of them sat in the living room watching the sunrise over the lake. It was a beautiful sight, with the yellow and orange light reflecting on the water. The next morning the woman was working in the kitchen when she heard her grandson yelling excitedly from the living room, “Grandma! Come quick! It’s doing it again!”
Wonder Sister Melannie Svoboda has ministered in education, formation, and leadership. Currently she gives talks and retreats nationally. She is also the author of many books including: Hanging Onto Hope, The Grace of Beauty: Its Mystery, Power, and Delight in Daily Life, and Picking Strawberries: Prayer-Poems to Nourish the Soul. Visit her blog “Sunflower Seeds” at www.melanniesvobodasnd.org.
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Sisters of Notre Dame USA | www.sndusa.org
When Jesus told us to become like little children, I think he was encouraging a childlike sense of wonder like that of the woman’s grandson. Children marvel at just about everything—even ordinary things: the rising sun, a creeping woolly worm, a chocolate chip cookie. Why is a childlike sense of wonder so important for our spiritual lives? First, wonder begets learning. When we wonder about things, we are often drawn to learn more about them—whether they be a certain person, an unusual bird at our feeder, or even a passage in scripture. Second, wonder can incite us to action. Our awe of rivers and forests may lead us to join conservation efforts to preserve them for future generations. Similarly, a disturbing news headline can move us to get involved with a particular social issue. Wonder can often lead to selfless service.
