Inaugural blog
Why the title?
'Wonder' because of my delight in its experience, which is reinforced by my overuse of the word 'wonderful', as well as an occasional, quirky, but hugely enjoyable use of the word 'wondrous'!
And 'wondering' because of my discovery of 'wondering' as a noun, as in 'a wondering'. Sam Wells, in 'Power and Passion' writes, 'Wonderings stimulate responses, meditations, sharing, explorations, or further wonderings. Wonderings are not questions. They have a full stop at the end, not a question mark. To address them, one has to leave aside the determination to get the right answer and instead has to open oneself to responses that invite further engagement.'
Why blogging?
I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, having been inspired by a number of blogs over the last few years - thanks especially to Maggi Dawn, Andy Goodliff, Living Wittily, Razzamajazz, and jonnybaker, to name but just a few. But recently, in the Central Baptist Association (CBA), one of my colleagues set up a social network, 'CBA Ministers', and this gave me an opportunity to dip my toes in – and it was alright!
It confirmed something I sort of knew already. If I experience something that creates a sense of wonder, I find it hard to keep to myself and want to share it, to describe it, to enthuse about it. And in the process I find that sometimes, often, the experience is extended and even increased, and may also become contagious. CS Lewis, in 'Reflections on the Psalms', addressing the issue of the praise of God, articulates something of this when he says, 'I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise ... the world rings with praise – lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favourite game ... I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious minds, praised most, while the cranks, misfits, and malcontents praised least... Praise almost seems to be inner health made audible ... I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.'
I have many opportunities during the course of Christian ministry and in conversation with friends and family to speak of 'wonders', but I wonder (my first 'wondering' on this blog) whether writing about them, with some regularity, in a different medium, will bring a different dimension, especially with the possibility of some response.
So, to cut to the chase, here goes!
'Wonder' because of my delight in its experience, which is reinforced by my overuse of the word 'wonderful', as well as an occasional, quirky, but hugely enjoyable use of the word 'wondrous'!
And 'wondering' because of my discovery of 'wondering' as a noun, as in 'a wondering'. Sam Wells, in 'Power and Passion' writes, 'Wonderings stimulate responses, meditations, sharing, explorations, or further wonderings. Wonderings are not questions. They have a full stop at the end, not a question mark. To address them, one has to leave aside the determination to get the right answer and instead has to open oneself to responses that invite further engagement.'
Why blogging?
I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, having been inspired by a number of blogs over the last few years - thanks especially to Maggi Dawn, Andy Goodliff, Living Wittily, Razzamajazz, and jonnybaker, to name but just a few. But recently, in the Central Baptist Association (CBA), one of my colleagues set up a social network, 'CBA Ministers', and this gave me an opportunity to dip my toes in – and it was alright!
It confirmed something I sort of knew already. If I experience something that creates a sense of wonder, I find it hard to keep to myself and want to share it, to describe it, to enthuse about it. And in the process I find that sometimes, often, the experience is extended and even increased, and may also become contagious. CS Lewis, in 'Reflections on the Psalms', addressing the issue of the praise of God, articulates something of this when he says, 'I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise ... the world rings with praise – lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favourite game ... I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious minds, praised most, while the cranks, misfits, and malcontents praised least... Praise almost seems to be inner health made audible ... I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.'
I have many opportunities during the course of Christian ministry and in conversation with friends and family to speak of 'wonders', but I wonder (my first 'wondering' on this blog) whether writing about them, with some regularity, in a different medium, will bring a different dimension, especially with the possibility of some response.
So, to cut to the chase, here goes!
Comments
Sarah
Great to see you taking the plunge.
Sean
all best
as ever
+Alan
Good to see you blogging!
I'm sure you'll find blogging to be a rewarding process. I know I do.
Good to see you at Sue's ordination a couple of weeks ago - pity we didn't get to talk.
I look forward to what you have to say...