Fostering Spaces of Wonder
I’ve been thinking a lot about wonder lately and how to foster it in every day spaces. As I’ve been holding these questions during Christmas, I found myself returning again and again to Mary. And only just now did I realize: Mary shows us how to foster spaces of wonder.
When Scripture tells us that Mary “pondered these things in her heart,” it’s describing exactly what I mean by wonder. She doesn’t rush to explain or resolve what’s happening. She makes room. She holds the mystery gently. She takes a quiet step of trust without demanding clarity.
To foster spaces of wonder is simply this: to make room.
This is what I mean when I talk about contemplative play. Yes, it includes time to create, imagine, and play but it goes a step further. It invites us into wonder by slowing down enough to notice what’s stirring within us, by asking gentle questions, by imagining what God might be inviting us into beneath the surface.
Contemplative play is not about producing something meaningful; it’s about being present to what is already unfolding. It’s choosing attentiveness over efficiency, curiosity over certainty. In that way, it becomes a spiritual practice, one Mary models so beautifully for us.
I suspect I’ll keep returning to this theme in the coming months, because I’m increasingly convinced that wonder itself is a spiritual discipline, one that our modern day faith desperately needs. But for now, I want to leave you with a few simple ways to begin fostering these kinds of spaces in ordinary, everyday life.
Simple ways to foster wonder in everyday life
Slow the pace. Leave margin in your day to linger, notice, and pause instead of rushing to the next thing.
Practice not-knowing. Replace quick answers with wondering questions: What do I notice? What surprises me?
Lower the stakes. Engage in activities that can’t be done “right”, like free drawing, playful movement, and contemplative or imaginative prayer.
Use your senses. Light a candle, touch natural materials, listen closely, breathe deeply.
Welcome silence. Even brief moments of quiet create space for God to speak beyond words.
Pay attention to small beauty. A patch of light, a child’s question, a line of poetry, a moment of peace.
Model curiosity. Say your own wonder aloud, about God, Scripture, people, and the world. Even better, be curious together in a group.
Like Mary, we may not always understand what God is doing. But when we make space to ponder, to wonder, to stay open, we create room for faith to grow.