Wake Up to Wonder: 22 Invitations to Amazement in the Everyday

by Karen Wright Marsh

In her quest to live a vibrant spiritual life, Karen Wright Marsh had a she didn't need to find and follow the perfect plan; she needed people she could follow.

In Wake Up to Wonder, Marsh introduces you to those people--faithful yet oh-so-human Christians from across centuries and cultures. Inspired by their example, she offers playful, simple practices that bring deeper meaning and purpose to everyday life.

In the company of diverse spiritual companions, you'll journey through physical health, prayer, activism, Scripture reading, creativity, and beyond. Each chapter includes hands-on invitations such as writing prompts, space for personal reflection, and "Try This," a collage of spiritual and personal experiments anyone can do.

As you wake up to wonder, you'll discover what these twenty-two historical figures already that a life of spiritual depth, amazement, and connection is within reach--today and every day.

Historical Figures Covered
Henri J. M. Nouwen
Martin Luther
Thomas Merton
Hildegard von Bingen
Margery Kempe
Wangari Maathai
Caedmon
Amanda Berry Smith
Augustine
Lilias Trotter
Fannie Lou Hamer
Patrick of Ireland
Hans Scholl and Sophie Scholl
Howard Thurman
Pandita Ramabai
Ephrem the Syrian
Ignatius of Loyola
Benedict and Scholastica
Brother Lawrence
Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi
Dorothy Day
Mabel Ping-Hua Lee

Genres: Religion, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Faith, Theology, Christianity, Christian

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2023

About the author

Karen Wright Marsh is the founding director of Theological Horizons, a ministry at the University of Virginia that hosts lectures, spiritual studies, dialogues, and mentoring initiatives.

She is the author of "Wake Up To Wonder: 22 Invitations to Amazement in the Everyday" and "Vintage Saints and Sinners: 25 Christians Who Transformed My Faith," which was named an Outreach Resource of the Year, a Logos Booksellers Book of the Year, and a Foreword INDIES finalist.

Karen holds a degree in philosophy from Wheaton College and a degree in linguistics from the University of Virginia. She lives with her professor husband, Charles Marsh, at the Bonhoeffer House in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Reviews

[Ellie Leech · Rating 5 out of 5]

I *loved* this book so much. The author did a lovely job incorporating Christian figures from many different times and places, and I loved being introduced to saints I wasn’t familiar with. I found the spiritual practices to be accessible for folks from a variety of faith background. This book works well for individual or group study!

[Ella Edelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this in the morning across several weeks. Each of the twenty-two entries focuses on some figure of faith and homes in on a specific element or practice of their spiritual life that in some way enriched the author's own life. At the close of each chapter, she makes suggestions about simple versions of these practices for the reader to implement herself. I like the idea of incorporating new spiritual practices to enliven personal devotion, and this book was valuable both for the numerous ideas of how to be present to God's presence as well as for the many introductions (or re-introductions) to mothers and fathers of the faith.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book left me speechless and blew me away in the best possible way. The heart of this book is to provide spiritual brothers and sisters (most long gone), who all faced their own challenges but still held on to their faith and lived life in God's presence. Karen Wright Marsh spends each chapter describing important points in a specific person's life, connects each of them with experience in her own life, and ends each chapter with practical ways to practice different facets of spirituality that each of these individuals held on to. While there were some "big name" Christians like Augustine and Martin Luther, I saw them in a completely new light (Martin Luther's chapter was a favorite of mine and is all about his love and ministry of music). There were also many people I'd never heard of or didn't know much about, and I bought biographies for a few of them to learn more. This book is part biography collection, part spiritual memoir, and part therapy journal. After reading it, I felt deeply encouraged and full.

Thank you to Netgalley and Brazos Press for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Moniquevanland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wake Up to Wonder is an antidote to our catastrophizing culture. Author Karen Wright Marsh introduces readers to twenty-two inspiring spiritual thinkers and leaders whose stories she tells with brevity and humor, and whose humanity and foibles she relates with empathy. Wake Up to Wonder invites readers to see in themselves reflections of these remarkable people and offers simple, practical ways to foster their best attributes in ourselves. Rather than reading like a self-help book, or a devotional, Wake Up to Wonder is like having a deep conversation with a brilliant close friend.

[Erin Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a beautiful book that is meant to be savord and applied. Each chapter details a faith practice you can use and a person from history who used it on their Christian walk. I appreciated all the examples from history she uses both from distant history and contemporary. This book would be great to read a chapter a week or month and apply the teaching and practice to your life. Each chapter has helpful tips and questions for how you can use the practice.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Would make a great study guide for contemplative practices.
I loved it!!!

[Dennard Teague · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much that I am leading a group study this summer!

[Conrade Yap · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a joke that talks about the three types of people in this world. The first type waits for things to happen. The second type makes things happen. The third type wonders what happened. The first type is the slacker. The second type is the planner. The third type is the ignorant. From a project management perspective, the joke is a fun way to inject urgency into the team. This book does not deal with project management per se. It is about discerning the exercise of faith, the relevance of hope, and the power of love. It might even encourage us to be the fourth type of person, a wakeful person in discernment about a time to wait, a time to work, and also a time to wonder. Instead of going it alone, author Karen Wright Marsh collects wisdom from 22 different sources of spiritual leaders on discernment. From Henri Nouwen, we learn how a man trapped in the cycle of busyness was able to discern his own identity through writing and conscientious reflection. Martin Luther reminds us of the gift of music to learn to sing our faith out loud. Thomas Merton's life of contemplation teaches us about cultivating prayer to become as natural as breathing. Hildegard Von Bingen points us toward personal healthcare to bring the body and soul to be in harmony. That involves deliberate food choices and health awareness. Margery Kempe shows us the simplicity of journeying spiritually by walking and thinking. Wangari Maathai expresses her faith through awareness of the stewardship of earthly resources to grow trees of both nature and faith. Caedmon invites us into a world of gratitude while Amanda Berry Smith shares about passionate prayer that is not shy about pouring out emotions and questions to God. Augustine's work and life demonstrate the power of confessions and confidence in God. Lilas Trotter wakes us up to wonder about artistry both within and without. Fannie Lou Hamer defends the weak and uses music to sing about salvation, redemption, and struggle. Patrick of Ireland helps us to embrace aloneness without guilt. Hans and Sophie Scholl caution us about evil indoctrination in an Information-loaded environment. Howard Thurman highlights stillness as an opportunity for renewal and fresh courage. Pandita Ramabai lives through various struggles of injustice and finds much solace in Scripture. Ephrem the Syrian surprises with a fresh look at the beauty that resembles hope even as we live through a world peppered with pain and loss. Ignatius of Loyola guides us through the daily examen. Benedict and Scholastica frame a disciplined way for us to work through the week. Brother Lawrence mentors us through intentional work and prayer. Francis of Assisi and Clare of Assisi reveal unique callings of God to us, sometimes in ways that are different from conventional thinking. Dorothy Day directs us toward balancing work, life, worship, and rest. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee's life is an expose to the unexpected ways God raises leaders.

My Thoughts
==============
One of the ills of modern society is the rush to busyness. We are always busy doing something. If we are not busy, we will find something to busy ourselves with. This is symptomatic of a restless soul and an anxious heart. In a society that is never satisfied, people gravitate to many activities in order to feel fulfilled. Like drinking and eating that only satisfy us momentarily, we live from one meal to another, from one project to another, and from one program to another. We switch channels on TV when bored. We browse different websites to kill time. We flip social media pages searching in vain for something to satisfy our inner cravings. What if the answer is not outside but inside? This book shows us wonderful things we can learn about ourselves as we wake up to the undiscovered longings in our inner beings. Author Karen Marsh reminds us about our inner inclinations toward stories. By giving us 22 stories about people in the past and present, we learn to write our own stories. Thus, this is a book about stories that speak to us when we take time to ponder and wonder. I am sure Marsh could have talked about many other people but curiously selected 22 unique individuals, some of whom I have not heard of. I wonder about what criteria Marsh uses to choose these people. Her five orientations will help us understand. It begins with "Wake Up" where Marsh helps us see the extraordinary in the midst of ordinary people in ordinary circumstances. This is perhaps the most important step for any busy person. If one can take time to ponder, it would have given any fatigued soul some space to breathe. "Reach Out" goes beyond the wakefulness to be conscious of the things and people around us. In a technology-full world, we have lost the art of stillness. Only in moments of stillness can we "Go Deep." Only when we learn about deepening our understanding can we appreciate the importance of growing a relationship with God as well as with fellow people. There is no quality time without quantity time. Hopefully, we can cultivate a lifestyle of work, rest, and play in order not to let the unhealthy spirit of busyness control us.

Thanks to Marsh, we have a resource to give us at least 22 illustrations of how to rest, find ourselves, and to be able to look beyond our own needs toward others. There are many lessons we can pick up in this book. The exercises at the end of each invitation can spur us to put the call to wake up to wonder into practice.

Karen Wright Marsh is the founding director of Theological Horizons, a ministry at the University of Virginia that hosts lectures, spiritual studies, dialogues, and mentoring initiatives. She is the author of Vintage Saints and Sinners: 25 Christians Who Transformed My Faith, which was named an Outreach Resource of the Year, a Logos Booksellers Book of the Year, and a Foreword INDIES finalist. Karen holds a degree in philosophy from Wheaton College and a degree in linguistics from the University of Virginia. She lives with her professor husband, Charles Marsh, at the Bonhoeffer House in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Brazos Press via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

[Amy Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should own a copy of this book to find inspiration for the days when their spiritual life feels stale, or when they feel like a “bad Christian” for experiencing a lack of wonder around spiritual disciplines. Written from the all-too-common perspective of only seeing Bible study and formulaic prayer as the means by which we connect with God, this book is packed full of simple ideas to connect with God - from expected ideas like silence and music, to out-of-the-box ideas like replaying the day or choosing your intention, doing something unexpected or asking a good question. Each idea is accompanied by a small biography from a saint (some you would know, some you wouldn’t - the author was exceptionally thoughtful with representation and diversity) who found the practice helpful, which was a big bonus to me - hearing their stories of life with God. “These persistent believers disarm with a spirituality of discovery, attention, even freedom.” What better words are there to describe practicing the presence of God?

This isn’t a book I’d normally read straight through, but instead use it as a reference book. Using it as a discipleship resource as well for this summer with my kids. Wonderfully practical.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second reading - what a wonderful book! It was nice to be invited to try some of the ideas instead of being told this is what you should do. Each chapter begins with a brief, around 3 page, biography of someone who demonstrated/used/embodied that practice. This is followed by a couple of pages of the author's experience with that awakening/spiritual practice. Then the invitations to try it, with several ways to incorporate that into your own life. Nothing heavy handed, but gentle invitations to try. Great book for a spiritual studies book group, church class, or individually. Highly recommended!

[Josh Olds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wake Up to Wonder is a collection of twenty-two devotional essays with practical suggestions—the author calls them “invitations”—to help readers become more in tune with the amazing things that surround them. It’s an eclectic work, offering historical reflection on Christian leaders, practical exercises for putting the book’s teaching into practice, recipes, prayers, poems, writing prompts. It’s a structuredly unstructured in that, while there is an overall form to the book, there’s also enough that’s malleable to make each day’s (week’s?) reading a unique experience that doesn’t feel forced.

The twenty-two essays are divided into four sections: 1) Wake Up, 2) Reach Out, 3) Go Deep, and 4) Dwell. As you might be able to guess, each section gets a little bit deeper or more involved. The early practices seem a bit easier or typical. “Put Pen to Paper” is about writing one’s thoughts and emotions. “Sing Out Loud” harnesses the power of song (even if you can’t sing well, like me!). “Follow Your Breath” is about calming oneself and becoming aware of your embodiedness through your breath. Later exercises are a bit more wild or abstract. “Escape to the beach!” “Do the unexpected!’

Each exercise is also based on the life of some Christian figure who embodied that particular practice. This aspect is truly what makes Wake Up to Wonder interesting. These aren’t random ideas out of author Karen Wright Marsh’s head, but lifelong practices from other Christian figures. Readers gain the solidarity of knowing that other people have also done these things and made them important in their life. It builds a connectivity with the past and with other believers to generate the feeling that we aren’t just all out here alone.

This element, which is similar to Wright’s previous book Vintage Saints and Sinners: 25 Christians Who Transformed My Faith, lends the work a biographical aspect. Readers can learn about and learn from these Christian figures. Some of these figures are ones you probably know: Martin Luther, Augustine, St. Patrick, Dorothy Day. Some are more obscure: Caedmon (the 7th century monk), Mabel Ping-Hua Lee (a 20th century Chinese-American pastor), Pandita Ramabai (a nineteenth century Indian Bible translator and scholar). Wake Up to Wonder does a great job featuring some of the familiar faces (usually those that are white and male) while also sharing with readers the lives of other important Christian figures who are not as well-known to history. Simply as a historical work, I have to commend Marsh for that.

Wake Up to Wonder is a thoughtfully composed book that invites readers to explore and embrace the wonders of everyday life through historical examples and personal reflection. Marsh's narrative style and the inclusion of diverse figures make the book a compelling read for anyone seeking inspiration and meaning in their daily experiences.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

Ultimately, to me, this is a five star book because it so beautifully fills a need that I hear in those around me and feel deeply in myself. If you're asking, "who can I trust in a world where every hero gets cancelled?" Here are 22 and I can't wait for you to meet them.

I spent the first twenty or so years of my life pre-occupied with the idea of right theology. If I knew how God operates, I could figure out exactly what God wanted of me. Then I could measure myself against that standard and know exactly where I was wrong and how I could improve.

If that sounds unhealthy, it's because it is. As as a mid-twenties urban Christian trying to figure out how to process the world, Karen's work gives a gentle answer to the angst I feel both in myself and in my friends. She invites us to relax and to follow; to follow not rules, but examples; examples of people who have successfully loved God and lived into the reality that God loved them as they were and called them into being deeper versions of themselves.

One thing I love so much about Karen's work is that, where many modern pastoral voices call readers to follow themselves and their interpretations, Karen calls her readers to follow twenty two different historical figures. Twenty-two figures who, mind you, if you put them all in a room together probably would have gotten into a fight. There is a spaciousness to Karen's approach that bucks the existence of right theology all together and simply says "here's some actions you can take now. you needn't litigate everything you believe first".

I read this book on a deadline and I know im going to have to go back through. Each chapter introduces a character, gives a bit of the lessons Karen has drawn from that character's example, and then gives a few pages of practical exercises you can do. The inner adolescent in me groans when I hear "practical exercises" — no-one loves a workbook — but I promise you these are beautiful ideas that demand ten minutes of thoughtful slowness. Im thinking of going back through and using Karen's prompts to re-invigorate my journaling life. I kept wanting to stop and let my mind wander at her prompting even though I knew I couldn't if I was ever going to write this review.

Please please, if you're looking to breathe life into your spiritual practice and meet some new historical figures, give this book a month of your life. Read a chapter a day. It doesn't set out to be literature, but it is simple and well-written in a humble style that accomplishes well more than its aims.

[Karen Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grounded in the embodied spirituality of Christians who have lived it best, this book introduces 22 accessible practices to help you find deeper meaning and purpose in your everyday life. As the author of this book, I must say that the process of writing has truly transformed my outlook and restored my spirit. It's a thrill to have these incredible endorsements for "Wake Up To Wonder":

“Get ready to meet a delightful assortment of fellow travelers from throughout the ages who will guide you through practical, purposeful steps toward a Jesus-centered, hope-filled life.
This is a book you will go back to many times!”
--The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and
author of Love is the Way and Crazy Christians

“Both in print and in person, Karen Wright Marsh has been a friend of mine for years. Her presence in both places has helped to root my soul in a deeper awareness of meaning and purpose.” Jon Foreman, frontman for Grammy Award winning rock band, Switchfoot

"What could be better than spending time with friends--including some spiritual masters--who give you great, insightful and lasting advice on how to live? Karen Wright Marsh's beautiful new book introduces you to some of the women and men who have guided her along life's difficult but also delightful paths, helping her--and now us--find our way to wonder and joy."
James Martin, SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything.

“Karen Wright Marsh successfully combines the wisdom of spiritual masters with her own down-to-earth insights to provide an easily accessible spiritual toolkit for those of us who are seeking an antidote to the stress and chaos of the modern world. Her invitations to sing, breathe, walk, bake, etc. give people of all faiths and beliefs simple ways to ‘fill up the spiritual gas tank’ and face the challenges of life with renewed hope and strength.”
Sister Monica Clare, CSJB, Tik Tok influencer

“I didn't know how much I needed the spiritual sustenance that Wake Up To Wonder offers. Marsh highlights the lives of familiar and new companions, ordinary people, whose creativity and purpose radiates long after their earthly sojourns end. Then, she invites us to nurture our own wellsprings of wonder.” Dr. Barbara A. Holmes,Core Faculty Center for Action and Contemplation, Author of Joy Unspeakable, Race and the Cosmos and Crisis Contemplation

[Hallelujah Brews Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wake Up to Wonder: 22 Invitations to Amazement in the Everyday by @karenwrightmarsh

5🌟/5🌟

I haven't made it through all 22 invitations yet. This is a work at your own pace book with devotionals, stories, and reflection. I don't recall coming across such a unique and activtity-focused book as an adult and I love it. Now, full disclaimer: I'm taking to slow and have done 2 of the 22 invitations.

Karen shares the stories of 22 faithful Christians throughout the ages, and presents their stories masterfully in a way to prompt personal and spiritual exploration. Karen then shares snippets of her own story, bringing modern relevance. Karen also shares evidence-based practices for practicing mindfulness, rest, and meditation throughout the book, which I greatly appreciate.

I jumped to Invitation 5, because this was the story of Margery Kempe and I've recently learned about Margery from Beth Allison Barr's book The Making of Biblical Womanhood (also from Brazos Press). I wanted to see what Karen had to say about Margery. I found a lovely summary of Margery's life, one of Margery's written prayers, and a devotional that Margery may have read in her lifetime. Next, I found space to draw and reflect on the prayers and even a coloring page! 

I would best describe this as a personal, spiritual exploration guide that helps the reader become familiar with Christian leaders from the ages who have put in the work and are sharing their spiritual insights and experiences while making space for the reader to do so as well. 

I'm setting a goal to read one invitation/chapter per week, this material needs space to be fully absorbed. I think this book will be especially interesting to those who are interested in church history. I see some well-known names but have never explored their writings or know little of their lives, including Augustine, Ignatius, Clare of Assisi, and Dorothy Day. I'm so excited to continue through this book, and I hope you will also consider doing so with me. There are 24 weeks left in 2023, so plenty of time to work thru an invitation each week😉

Thank you @BrazosPress for the early gifted copy, this book will be guiding me for the rest of 2023.

[Amy Living Well Read]

Wake Up to Wonder: 22 Invitations to Amazement in the Everyday by Karen Wright Marsh

Isn’t this cover lovely?? I love supporting the books @brazospress puts out, and I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this one.

This devotional is a curation of thoughts from an array of Christian thinkers and saints—from Brother Lawrence, Saint Francis of Assisi, Margery Kempe, Henri Nouwen, and Caedmon, among others. Each “invitation,” or devotional, provides a mini-biography and look into these thinkers, followed with the author’s personal connection and then a “try this” section with practices that relate to that particular invitation. The practices might be walking, a recipe, questions to consider, or journal entries.

I loved learning more about so many of these Christians who lived out their faith in very tangible and meaningful ways. This summer has been an incredibly hectic one for me balancing a full-time class load and children on summer vacation who still need to be carted everywhere and fed and clothed, so I will admit that many of the “try this” prompts for further embodiment of the lessons felt very inaccessible with my current stage of motherhood. This book would be wonderful for an empty nester or just anyone with a little more space and time to flesh out the author’s suggestions. With that said, I still really enjoyed reading and learning from this devotional. I think anyone reading this book without any extra margin right now could still glean a lot! For me personally, it makes me less cranky to go into these readings prepared to just pull what I can from it without being irritated that my season of life doesn’t allow for a lot of time for reflection, so consider this your advance preparation. 😘

If you’re a creative soul in any way, this book will nourish and feed you in very real and tangible ways. Even for someone like myself, who doesn’t view myself as a “creative” like some, I still really enjoyed the opportunity to dive into the lives of so many wonderful believers whose lives and words should be cherished.

[Rob Seabrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unusual devotional, taking an aspect of influence from significant people of faith through history, theologians and thinkers, and applying modern day examples of how their advice, wisdom and disciplines can be applied. Karen then adds plenty of practical suggestions on how we may be able to apply the practices ourselves.
Each "invitation", not chapters, offers plenty of food for thought and contemplation. The topics are taken from the teachings of some very interesting people, many of whom I had not heard of before but will now certainly look up their writings.
In fact, I took this book to read with me on a weekend retreat at a Benedictine monastery, which turned out to be inspired. It was wonderful, offering up all sorts of creative ways to apply faith to my thoughts. During a time of contemplation, the studies in this book gave me a diverse range of topics to ponder, often offering me an area to focus on. I was also mighty encouraged to find a chapter on St Benedict and his teachings.
This may well be an extreme approach, so equally helpful would be to read one section each day, or each week, in the normal way for a devotional, and then apply it. It only needs for some of what it says to stick, to encourage you to be more intentional in thoughts and actions, more healthy, physically, emotionally and spiritually and initiate the process of making a bigger difference to the world.
It is a lovely collection of wisdoms to ponder each day. Our digital, social media savvy world might be tempted to re-label them as "life hacks" and broadcast them with a clever but disposable meme. But this would be crude and so much less than these writings deserve. True wisdom is precious. These deserve to be deeply pondered, to speak some permanent truths into our lives. The invitations are there, generously given and free to accept.
See more reviews of Christian books at https://www.robseabrook.com/category/...

[Rebeka Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

[All the thanks to Brazos Press for this gifted copy, with zero obligation to review. All thoughts my own and offered freely.]

Following the journeys of the faithful - ancient and modern, well-known (St. Patrick, Dorothy Day) and obscur (Hans and Sophie Scholl, Pandita Ramabai) - these sweet invitations are crafted with beautiful, quieting simplicity. Instead of offering formulaic lists or churchy acronyms for how to read your Bible or pray everyday, these accounts and personal stories explore spiritual practices not often emphasized in formal settings - surrounding yourself with beauty, asking thoughtful questions, using your voice for change, using your hands to create. "In a world where 'religion' is associated with burdensome dogma, judgmental attitudes, and blind faith, these persistent believers disarm with a spirituality of discovery, attention, even freedom."

"I have been learning that the richest spiritual life is not about achievement. It's about amazement." Each chapter ends with tangible prompts - activities or questions to ponder - that ground you in the present moment and the wonder of inner reflection. One of my favorite features of the physical book are the section title pages - I don't know if this was the goal, but the pages are drawings of nature and they could easily be treated as a coloring page (which I think coincides with the overall theme of this book quite nicely).

This isn't meant to be read all at once or be treated as a "how to" instruction book of rote habit building or defending a theological position. Rather, this is one to pick up when you desire quiet reflection and maybe need some questions or simple activities to get you started. This book will nourish your heart as you journey through your days with wonder and curiousity.

[Michele Morin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Wright Marsh has a true gift for making historical figures stand up and walk off the page with encouragement to wake up, reach out, go deep, and dwell in amazement. Wake Up to Wonder features 22 vignettes drawn from the lives of saints who accepted God’s invitation to wonder. As our older brothers and sisters, their lives and their examples mentor us in spiritual practices that provide solid footing in unsettling times.

I was delighted to encounter fresh thoughts on familiar friends like Saint Patrick and Brother Lawrence and intrigued to make the acquaintance of (to me) more obscure names including Margery Kempe, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Ephrem the Syriac. The story of each guide is followed by suggested spiritual practices that beckon the reader to go “further up and further in” with Christ. If you have a journal, keep it handy because you will want to record significant quotes from the wealth of wisdom collected in these pages.

The book is well-named for a generation of believers who have been lulled to sleep by comfort and entertainment and who need to wake up to the wonder that we live every moment in the presence of the miraculous. We enjoy God’s unwavering attention! May I never cease to live in wonder!

Many thanks to the Brazos Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Karen Wright Marsh's book sitting atop a hill overlooking the lake I'd just kayaked with my wife, Cindy, an hour prior. The "wake up to wonder" moments on the day I completed Marsh's book were many:

Dragonflies and damselflies perched on the end of kayaks
Birdsong from the shoreline trees
Blue herons flying overhead

However, the "wonder highlight" was watching nearly a dozen young children flying their kites near the base of the hill, joyfully shouting with glee as the wind lifted the kites (Paw Patrol, Little Mermaid among them) into the sky.

Being attentive to such moments is one of the seminal purposes of Marsh's book. Helping us to notice, to savor, to be attentive to, and to share with others the wonder all around us every day. She does this through sharing stories of people both well known (Howard Thurman, Henri Nouwen, Dorothy Day, Fannie Lou Hamer) and others much less known (Hans and Sophie Scholl, Margery Kempe, Pandita Ramabai, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee) and pairing that with "wake up to wonder" exercises at the close of each chapter.

I highly recommend this beautifully-written, wise and wonder-filled book!

[Jenna Gareis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five things about Wake Up to Wonder by Karen Wright Marsh 📚📚📚📚

1. This one has been sitting by my bed for months. I dipped in and out of it over time and finally finished it last night.
2. Each chapter consists of a narrative that introduces a person of impact from history or the current day, a lesson to take from their lives and actions, and an activity for application of that lesson to your life.
3. Overall, this book is really engaging and inspiring. What I would have loved them to include would be a passage actually written by the person of impact. Occasionally you’ll get a quote but nothing substantial and it really felt like a gaping hole in each chapter.
4. As a result of this book though, I’ve a new interest in Margery Kemp and am looking forward to reading The Book of Margery Kemp soon.
5. I definitely recommend this as a bedside table book but be warned, if you’re like me, you’ll want to read the individual’s actual words and will be adding things to your TBR. 😂

[Mark VanderWerf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be retuning to this book (and recommending it others) frequently.

This book is one part historical snapshot, one part honest conversation about contemporary Christian living, and one part practical spiritual disciplines.

Karen Marsh wonderfully shares twenty-two briefs vignettes of “saints” (some familiar: Augustine, Benedict, Patrick, etc; some less so: Wangari Matthau, Pandita Ramabai, etc) who serve as invitations to the Christian life. After each saintly vignette, Marsh offers her own memoir-like reflection on the Christian life. Her reflections are full of grace and reminders of the ordinariness of faithful Christian living. Then, keeping things practical, Marsh offers simple spiritual disciplines or practices as ways to put the faith into practice.

You won’t find 10 rules for self-improvement or 22 ways to make you feel guilty that should be doing more. Instead, Marsh offers - just as the title states - invitations to amazement in the everyday.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I savored this book slowly in the mornings, one short chapter at a time. I loved it! It's a rich and special book. Karen tells stories of faithful women and men across centuries and cultures, connects each one to a story from her own life, and offers a practice inspired by the person she's writing about.

For example: Henri Nouwen and journaling. Hildegard Von Bingen and healthy eating (cookies of joy!), Margery Kempe and walking, Howard Thurman on moments of stillness in the midst of struggle for social change, and Lilias Trotter on noticing and sketching.

In Karen's words, "I invite you to come along as I tell stories of the guides who show me the way, or rather, the multiplicity of ways, to live a centered, abundant life of prayer and action, insights and habits."

Very highly recommended!

[Mary Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through thoughtful and concise introductions, Marsh invites the reader to wonder and play with 22 different spiritual figures. Each "friend" has a unique way of looking at the world and beholding the movement of the divine in themselves and/or in their community. In each chapter Marsh introduces the guiding figure, shares a story connecting themes to her own life, and offers multiple, practical ways to explore the theme in the reader's life. I loved getting to know new "friends" and understanding familiar ones in new ways. A thoughtful, fun, and wonder-full book!

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading ‘Wake Up to Wonder’ was a delight. Karen Wright Marsh writes with a charming, gentle style. The book is easy to read and thoughtful, while still being thoroughly practical. The book is based on the concept of finding people to follow, instead of a perfect plan. I love the idea. By sharing people’s stories, this book inspires without guilt-tripping. Some of the people Karen Wright Marsh chose are very well known, while others I had never heard about before. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to grow as a Christ follower.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this introduction to a number of different Christian figures from across the years, some more recent and others further back in history.

Marsh writes engagingly and does a great job at introducing the reader to each person and their historical significance, as well as suggesting ways to go deeper in our faith as a result. Thought-provoking indeed.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an overview of many possible spiritual practices. her special way of organizing them is to pair each practice with a historical figure. She also includes more contemporary examples of the practice and stories from her own life. the best part of each chapter is probably the section at the end called "try this". I did not find this book as earth shattering as I had hoped, but I thought it was a worthwhile compilation of history and spiritual practice.

[Christen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't need to look far around to see that we are coaxed asleep by consumerism and taught to live in fear by toxic polarization. Karen Marsh's book is a needed wake up call that wonder can and should bring us back to ourselves, to one another and to the created world. This should be on everyone's summer reading list!

[Deryk Rumbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marsh has a great ability to condense historical figures into contemporary context that is not only understandable but also of practical use to the modern Christian. 22 Christians of various settings and contexts all put into a very streamlined guide to invite readers to letting God saturate every part of your daily life.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful book, full of incredible authors who a reader can befriend and walk alongside. Each of the themes and categories keeps a reader engaged and putting into practice the truths that are being revealed. I don't know if the intent is to doodle in the margins and color the beautiful illustrations, but at least one of my copies will be used in that way. I can see myself coming to snippets of this book again and again.

[Natalie Herr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging to read stories of the saints before us that help lead us to wonder- a good devo style read with short chapters, but worth chewing on each one for a while. The end of the chapters have some small, practical steps to move toward wonder.