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Recapture the Wonder
Break free from the weariness and cynicism of life to enjoy God's amazing promise of childlike joy! It's time to reclaim that awesome sense of wonder--to experience God's amazing promise of childlike joy.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
132 people are currently reading
1268 people want to read
About the author
Ravi Zacharias
253 books1,661 followersFrederick Antony Ravi Kumar Zacharias was an Indian-born Canadian-American Christian evangelical minister and Christian apologist who founded Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). He was involved in Christian apologetics for a period spanning more than forty years, authoring more than thirty books. He also hosted the radio programs Let My People Think and Just Thinking. Zacharias belonged to the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), the Keswickian Christian denomination in which he was ordained as a minister. After his death, allegations of sexual harassment against him emerged, were investigated, and found to be true.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
December 10, 2012
I just feel smart when I read anything by Ravi. I listen to his podcast a couple of times a week, too. Than man always gives you something to chew on.
I just finished reading '>Recapture the Wonder. When we were children, so many things made us say, "Wow! What makes that happen?" But as we grow older and smarter and more and more cynical, the things that "wow" us become more scarce.
Zacharias challenges the believer to develop an increased appetite for the things of God and His Word. "Wonder enriches you when you take the time to reflect and to ponder the greatness of our faith in Jesus Christ," writes Zacharias.
Here are some other great quotes from the book:
"Thinking is a dying disciplines in a society that throbs with activity."
"If a follower of Jesus does not mature in his or her reading, the church could end up running the biggest nursery in the world."
"The one possessing the wealth must know its real value if the possession is to bring wonder."
"Physicality and sensuality are not one and the same, and when they are made identical, the reduction is fatal to the senses."
http://mondokblog.blogspot.com/2006/0...
I just finished reading '>Recapture the Wonder. When we were children, so many things made us say, "Wow! What makes that happen?" But as we grow older and smarter and more and more cynical, the things that "wow" us become more scarce.
Zacharias challenges the believer to develop an increased appetite for the things of God and His Word. "Wonder enriches you when you take the time to reflect and to ponder the greatness of our faith in Jesus Christ," writes Zacharias.
Here are some other great quotes from the book:
"Thinking is a dying disciplines in a society that throbs with activity."
"If a follower of Jesus does not mature in his or her reading, the church could end up running the biggest nursery in the world."
"The one possessing the wealth must know its real value if the possession is to bring wonder."
"Physicality and sensuality are not one and the same, and when they are made identical, the reduction is fatal to the senses."
http://mondokblog.blogspot.com/2006/0...
October 29, 2013
The first thing which caught my attention was the book cover.
There is a picture of a boy stepping hesitantly in a pool of water which covers around one third of his lower leg. His two arms are half-stretched as if he is afraid of falling. The knees are slightly bent and turned inward as if taking in the slight coolness of the water and the smooth therapeutic effect a pool of disturbed water can do to one’s skin.
Ripples of water centrifuged from where the child is standing, bringing us all the way to the horizon where there is a dazzle of light.
It must be either early morning or late in the evening but the child seems not bothered by the diminished vision. He seems so occupied with the wonder of coming into contact with water.
And right across the book written in slightly brazen bold iskoola pota, the title of the book “Recapture the Wonder” with a recommendation below - ”this powerful book offers the right medicine for anyone who may be disillusioned with life.”
Like this book cos the author brings home his point with i think three steps:
Chapters 1-2 assert the necessity for man to focus in this distracting world: “watch a child with one toy and see the protracted enjoyment it brings. Watch a child with a dozen packages around and see the crestfallen look after minutes of opening them all. Is there not a lesson here?”
Chapter 3 defines wonder as a disciplined science: “wonder is one of those ‘possessions’ that needs disciplined guarding and thoughtful guiding… there are bitter long-term disappointments in short-term indulgence.”
And chapters 4-6 point us to God, heaven and Christ: “the only way to transcend the physical and the sensual while retaining their essential feature is to bind them to the sacred… like a child who suddenly stops sobbing when he is clasped in the arms of his mother, such will be the grip of heaven upon our souls…enchantment in life can never be realized in some thing; it must ultimately culminate in a Person… wonder enriches you when you take the time to reflect and to ponder the greatness of our faith in Jesus Christ.”
The whole book is punctuated with beautiful sayings like these.
And my favorite sentence in this book is, ”only God is able to humble us without humiliating us and to exalt us without flattering us.”
There is a picture of a boy stepping hesitantly in a pool of water which covers around one third of his lower leg. His two arms are half-stretched as if he is afraid of falling. The knees are slightly bent and turned inward as if taking in the slight coolness of the water and the smooth therapeutic effect a pool of disturbed water can do to one’s skin.
Ripples of water centrifuged from where the child is standing, bringing us all the way to the horizon where there is a dazzle of light.
It must be either early morning or late in the evening but the child seems not bothered by the diminished vision. He seems so occupied with the wonder of coming into contact with water.
And right across the book written in slightly brazen bold iskoola pota, the title of the book “Recapture the Wonder” with a recommendation below - ”this powerful book offers the right medicine for anyone who may be disillusioned with life.”
Like this book cos the author brings home his point with i think three steps:
Chapters 1-2 assert the necessity for man to focus in this distracting world: “watch a child with one toy and see the protracted enjoyment it brings. Watch a child with a dozen packages around and see the crestfallen look after minutes of opening them all. Is there not a lesson here?”
Chapter 3 defines wonder as a disciplined science: “wonder is one of those ‘possessions’ that needs disciplined guarding and thoughtful guiding… there are bitter long-term disappointments in short-term indulgence.”
And chapters 4-6 point us to God, heaven and Christ: “the only way to transcend the physical and the sensual while retaining their essential feature is to bind them to the sacred… like a child who suddenly stops sobbing when he is clasped in the arms of his mother, such will be the grip of heaven upon our souls…enchantment in life can never be realized in some thing; it must ultimately culminate in a Person… wonder enriches you when you take the time to reflect and to ponder the greatness of our faith in Jesus Christ.”
The whole book is punctuated with beautiful sayings like these.
And my favorite sentence in this book is, ”only God is able to humble us without humiliating us and to exalt us without flattering us.”
April 26, 2020
In chapter 1, Ravi Zacharias defines wonder, the central concept of the book:
The first chapter is a great, intriguing opening. But as the book continues, it meanders and becomes somewhat unfocused on the central theme. Zacharias’s answers to the questions he sets up in the first chapter are satisfying only to readers who already agree with his points, because his arguments rely on an assumed “we” that takes a number of complex conclusions for granted. I wished that the discussions went deeper and broader, but too often this book is “death by anecdote,” where complex issues are resolved with “I recently heard the story of a man who...” or quotes from G. K. Chesterton. The sources Zacharias relies on, aside from his own personal stories, come from a typical Christian liberal arts college curriculum—which is fine, but for me, I know all the same sources and yet I still have questions. I want to learn from someone who is a little ahead of me on the path to wisdom, not someone who is at about the same place I am.
Still, the theme is such a good one. There is good material here, in amongst all the anecdotes and hyperbole. I’d like to read another book on this topic, by a writer who can go a little further with it and bring new insights.
Wonder is that possession of the mind that enchants the emotions while never surrendering reason. It is a grasp on reality that does not need constant high points in order to be maintained, nor is it made vulnerable by the low points of life’s struggle. It sees in the ordinary the extraordinary, and it finds in the extraordinary the reaffirmations for what it already knows. Wonder clasps the soul (the spiritual) and is felt in the body (the material). Wonder interprets life through the eyes of eternity while enjoying the moment, but never lets the momentary vision exhaust the eternal. Wonder makes life’s enchantment real and knows when and where enchantment must lie. Wonder knows how to read the shadows because it knows the nature of light. Wonder knows that while you cannot look at the light you cannot look at anything else without it. (20)I love that paragraph, and I love the theme that Zacharias sets out to explore: “Why does the enchantment that we long for seem so elusive and almost scandalously complex? . . . Deep within every human heart throbs the undying hope that somebody or something will bring both an explanation of what life is all about and a way to retain the wonder” (7, 13). I agree with him, that this is one of the biggest issues in our society: we’ve been so convinved that reason and logic have explained the way the world works, and therefore to regard the world with wonder is utterly naïve. In my own life, I feel the pull toward sarcasm and irony, even though what I most want is sincerity and pure delight.
The first chapter is a great, intriguing opening. But as the book continues, it meanders and becomes somewhat unfocused on the central theme. Zacharias’s answers to the questions he sets up in the first chapter are satisfying only to readers who already agree with his points, because his arguments rely on an assumed “we” that takes a number of complex conclusions for granted. I wished that the discussions went deeper and broader, but too often this book is “death by anecdote,” where complex issues are resolved with “I recently heard the story of a man who...” or quotes from G. K. Chesterton. The sources Zacharias relies on, aside from his own personal stories, come from a typical Christian liberal arts college curriculum—which is fine, but for me, I know all the same sources and yet I still have questions. I want to learn from someone who is a little ahead of me on the path to wisdom, not someone who is at about the same place I am.
Still, the theme is such a good one. There is good material here, in amongst all the anecdotes and hyperbole. I’d like to read another book on this topic, by a writer who can go a little further with it and bring new insights.
January 17, 2014
I haven't read a Ravi book in a while. It's hard to when his speaking is so good, you just want to jump to that. But I'm glad I gave this book a thorough read. Ravi is one of the few authors who manages to balance a very well thought out intellectual, and sometimes philosophical, argument with truly heartfelt and practical convictions. This book looks at the loss of wonder in our society and as individuals and maps the path back to that wonder. I was surprisingly moved at some parts and convicted at others. Some of these ideas I had heard before but Ravi applies them in very specific ways I had not considered. I'm coming away from the read with a much better sense of the importance of wonder and firmer convictions to seek that in my life. Definitely worth your time. Side note to pastors: There's a lot of good stories and sermon material to glean from. Enjoy!
July 15, 2009
A good one. I'm planning on sharing it with whomever would like to read it, and hope to pass it onto my grandparents right away. Short and sort of simplistic, it argues that wonder can be found only in a person, and will be lost if looked for. Thus, the search for God is all that can provide lasting wonder, because He is the only eternal novelty. Definately worth reading. He quotes C.S. Lewis and Chesterton about twenty times together, makes referances to Tennyson and Shakespeare, and gives mini-biographies of Cowper and Donne. This, I feel, is as things should be. The man must be an absolute full-to-bursting warehouse of quotes. He has one for every possible occasion. I like him.
September 3, 2018
Great book when this world stops holding out much allure. It speaks to our deepest desires and how to begin seeing the profound meaning in everything around us. Great read.
November 26, 2016
An excellent contribution from a man known for substantive and engaging talks. It's not long but it is deep. I'd highly recommend it!
A few quotes from the book -
"Love's first step is to believe and receive fully God's mercy. I once read that only God is able to humble us without humiliating us and to exalt us without flattering us. That is what His forgiveness accomplishes."
"Until we see ourselves in the uniqueness of God's touch we will always want to be someone and we will live under the illusion that being someone else would be better. History is full of examples of God using the most unlikely people for His extraordinary purposes. To believe that He has made uniquely, debilitated or not, and with a distinctive touch is to celebrate every individual life. In the vastness of God's creation, your birth and your reach is something unique. With the psalmist we may personalize it and say, 'What is there in me that you take notice of me?' But again with the Psalmist we can say, 'You framed me in my mother's womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.'"
"In the end life is like a balance sheet of gains and losses. The real battle lies in knowing what we can afford to lose and what we must uncompromisingly hold on to. Jesus said that it profits a person nothing if he or she gains the whole world but loses his or her soul. Simple reason tells us that it is a mindless transaction to gain what is merely temporal and lose what is desirably eternal. The only way to configure a plan is to understand the nature of our hungers and clearly differentiate between the fulfillment that are permanent and those that are temporary."
A few quotes from the book -
"Love's first step is to believe and receive fully God's mercy. I once read that only God is able to humble us without humiliating us and to exalt us without flattering us. That is what His forgiveness accomplishes."
"Until we see ourselves in the uniqueness of God's touch we will always want to be someone and we will live under the illusion that being someone else would be better. History is full of examples of God using the most unlikely people for His extraordinary purposes. To believe that He has made uniquely, debilitated or not, and with a distinctive touch is to celebrate every individual life. In the vastness of God's creation, your birth and your reach is something unique. With the psalmist we may personalize it and say, 'What is there in me that you take notice of me?' But again with the Psalmist we can say, 'You framed me in my mother's womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.'"
"In the end life is like a balance sheet of gains and losses. The real battle lies in knowing what we can afford to lose and what we must uncompromisingly hold on to. Jesus said that it profits a person nothing if he or she gains the whole world but loses his or her soul. Simple reason tells us that it is a mindless transaction to gain what is merely temporal and lose what is desirably eternal. The only way to configure a plan is to understand the nature of our hungers and clearly differentiate between the fulfillment that are permanent and those that are temporary."
November 5, 2018
1.5 stars.
Back when I was younger and a lot more Protestant, I had been a great admirer of Ravi’s. He came to speak in our church a few of times, and my impression of him then was that he‘s really smart. He doesn’t use a PowerPoint or a prompter or even notes on index cards when he speaks, and he yet he can quote entire poems and scripture passages from memory. Now, I’ve been noticing that that’s all people from here say about him after a sermon—how smart he is. I doubt anyone remembers what he spoke about, just that he sounded smart while he was speaking.
Anyway, I had a point somewhere... something about how his authority as a speaker doesn’t quite carry over into his writing. This book was mediocre. By the end of it, I wasn’t feeling any wonder or awe, just the “meh” feeling of finishing a book I know I’ll never pick up again. I think it’s best to turn to the mystics to get a better sense of wonder. I’m also reading another book written as a series of personal prayers called Encounters with Silence by Karl Rahner, and the chapter titled “God of My Life” evoked the sense of wonder and awe that I expected while reading this.
I did enjoy the quotes the author put in, though. Ravi’s very well-read, so there’s always something interesting from other writers or thinkers in his works.
Back when I was younger and a lot more Protestant, I had been a great admirer of Ravi’s. He came to speak in our church a few of times, and my impression of him then was that he‘s really smart. He doesn’t use a PowerPoint or a prompter or even notes on index cards when he speaks, and he yet he can quote entire poems and scripture passages from memory. Now, I’ve been noticing that that’s all people from here say about him after a sermon—how smart he is. I doubt anyone remembers what he spoke about, just that he sounded smart while he was speaking.
Anyway, I had a point somewhere... something about how his authority as a speaker doesn’t quite carry over into his writing. This book was mediocre. By the end of it, I wasn’t feeling any wonder or awe, just the “meh” feeling of finishing a book I know I’ll never pick up again. I think it’s best to turn to the mystics to get a better sense of wonder. I’m also reading another book written as a series of personal prayers called Encounters with Silence by Karl Rahner, and the chapter titled “God of My Life” evoked the sense of wonder and awe that I expected while reading this.
I did enjoy the quotes the author put in, though. Ravi’s very well-read, so there’s always something interesting from other writers or thinkers in his works.
August 22, 2015
"Each of us has known a moment in which everything in life that is beautiful and overwhelming was suddenly crystallized into a bite-sized moment. Every sense was involved, almost like a convergence of all that is true and good and beautiful, so that we wished we could have frozen that moment and made it last forever."
"How does on live in such a way that the mundane blends with the dramatic so that the whole story remains sensational? How does one take the emotional high points and successfully balance them with the sharp edges of sorrow that are also part of life? How do we avoid becoming, at the end of life, the proverbial cynic, or the "grumpy old person"?"
"The tragedy of growing up is not that we lose the childishness in it's simplicity, but that we lose it in its sublimity."
A large section of the book was excellent with thought provoking stories and analysis. The how shall we then yet live part was not as satisfying as I hoped. However, if the subject seems interesting this is well worth the read. Wonder is part of what makes the world great. Seeing mystery and beauty around us requires some curiosity and awe at the answers and beauty in the world. Good stuff.
"How does on live in such a way that the mundane blends with the dramatic so that the whole story remains sensational? How does one take the emotional high points and successfully balance them with the sharp edges of sorrow that are also part of life? How do we avoid becoming, at the end of life, the proverbial cynic, or the "grumpy old person"?"
"The tragedy of growing up is not that we lose the childishness in it's simplicity, but that we lose it in its sublimity."
A large section of the book was excellent with thought provoking stories and analysis. The how shall we then yet live part was not as satisfying as I hoped. However, if the subject seems interesting this is well worth the read. Wonder is part of what makes the world great. Seeing mystery and beauty around us requires some curiosity and awe at the answers and beauty in the world. Good stuff.
March 22, 2009
Author Ravi Zacharias is one of favorite authors because he is an excellent writer and a renown philosophical thinker. Here is a quick excerpt from the book.
"God is like the light. Wonder is like the shadow. If you chase the shadow you will never catch up to it. It might even disappear. If you walk toward the light, the shadow will always pursue you. That is when the heart sings with gladness."
In this work he proves his writing skills again, however, takes a lighter approach to the deeper apologetics which are usually featured in his work. This is an easy read with a topic not covered in other books that I know, and I found it refreshing to read.
"God is like the light. Wonder is like the shadow. If you chase the shadow you will never catch up to it. It might even disappear. If you walk toward the light, the shadow will always pursue you. That is when the heart sings with gladness."
In this work he proves his writing skills again, however, takes a lighter approach to the deeper apologetics which are usually featured in his work. This is an easy read with a topic not covered in other books that I know, and I found it refreshing to read.
March 21, 2017
The title and cover makes this look like a typical Christian book store find, but it is a Ravi book so I wasn't worried about it being superficial or trite. I copied whole paragraphs out of this book into my journal. I also think I cried like four separate times reading this... Ravi and his stories.
I loved reading this and I want to pass it on to others.
I loved reading this and I want to pass it on to others.
September 13, 2014
Not Ravi's best but needed words on a necessary topic. Wonder is God's design for the eyes heart and mind of man. When we reject him we betray our senses. The pursuit of righteousness makes our senses come alive.
July 30, 2013
This is probably the best book I've read this year. It was soul-restoring.
September 28, 2020
I just could not like it. I wanted to.
It’s just poorly written. Too many examples, anecdotes, and analogies with poor tie ins to his topic. It makes for choppy and clumsy writing. There is very little depth. And a lot of quotes/ideas from other authors. There doesn’t seem to be much new here from him. I guess at the very least it makes him a student.
It feels like he’s trying to be profound, but it comes off awkward in his sentence structure.
“The span of delight that comes with the capacity of enchantment that was given to us as we began life has been killed.”
Or over repeated sentence structures to make a point. “Is it not that there are no [x] but that we [y].” 5 times in a row. Blah.
It also jumps around in person: I, you, one — with the ‘one does’ sentences being the most frustrating.
I hope there are better written books on wonder out there.
It’s just poorly written. Too many examples, anecdotes, and analogies with poor tie ins to his topic. It makes for choppy and clumsy writing. There is very little depth. And a lot of quotes/ideas from other authors. There doesn’t seem to be much new here from him. I guess at the very least it makes him a student.
It feels like he’s trying to be profound, but it comes off awkward in his sentence structure.
“The span of delight that comes with the capacity of enchantment that was given to us as we began life has been killed.”
Or over repeated sentence structures to make a point. “Is it not that there are no [x] but that we [y].” 5 times in a row. Blah.
It also jumps around in person: I, you, one — with the ‘one does’ sentences being the most frustrating.
I hope there are better written books on wonder out there.
May 27, 2020
A great reminder that retaining a childlike wonder of life takes work as we grow. Grasping onto Hope, Truth, Love, and Gratefulness is the beginning of retaining that same wonder I had as a kid where everything was new, exciting, and joyful. A great read for those who feel like they closed their windows and grew up with Wendy.
July 24, 2014
The components of gratitude and truth, love and hope bring the realization of wonder. The disciplines of study, of reading and reflecting, of dialoguing in depth and praying with belief sustain the wonder. In short, wonder is captured in one word--worship. When we have learned what worship is, we have experienced what wonder is. Worship is a personal thing before it goes public. It is an individual thing before it is a part of a community. It is a disciplined thing before it is natural.
In that sense, worship is not only a science in that there is discipline to it, but worship is an art in that there is beauty to it. For here the emotion, propelled by the will, touches deep into the imagination to lift the spirit into the very presence of God. On our journey to the home of our Father, He has given us the map and shown us what it will cost. There is a language to it, there are boundaries for it, and there is danger in it. The recognition that though some days will be hard and painful and other days will be joyous and delightful, all are part of the same journey. We must keep our eye on Him and the delight of reunion with Him, bearing the good with the hard and accepting all as real, but letting none diminish the grand, ultimate sight and sound of His presence. If we are to sing in the company of those who have found wonder through worship, we must be girded by the sword of His Word, be guided by the great ones who have walked this way before, and be patient in knowing that the journey is long and will not be accomplished in a day. But if the feet and the head are facing in the same direction, the emotions will follow as well.
God is like the light. Wonder is like the shadow. If you chase the shadow you will never catch up to it. It might even disappear. If you walk toward the light, the shadow will always pursue you. That is when the heart sings with gladness:
'Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
all the days, all the days of my life.' (John W. Peterson, "Surely Goodness and Mercy.") (164-165)
These three paragraphs summarize what took place in the book. I'm tempted to just quickly finish this review so I can move on to the next thing. After finishing "Gods at War" by Kyle Idleman, I am reminded of how the god of achievement keeps knocking on my door. I want to answer it again, and again, and again. But I can't allow myself to do that. The wonder is knocking too. I just read some absolutely incredible things! I can't just move on to the next thing so quickly. I am constrained to go and worship and pray.
I will finish with 2 quotes that have really challenged me (there are SO many others though lol):
'Thinking is a dying discipline in a society that throbs with activity.'
'If a follower of Jesus does not mature in his or her reading, the church could end up running the biggest nursery in the world.'
In that sense, worship is not only a science in that there is discipline to it, but worship is an art in that there is beauty to it. For here the emotion, propelled by the will, touches deep into the imagination to lift the spirit into the very presence of God. On our journey to the home of our Father, He has given us the map and shown us what it will cost. There is a language to it, there are boundaries for it, and there is danger in it. The recognition that though some days will be hard and painful and other days will be joyous and delightful, all are part of the same journey. We must keep our eye on Him and the delight of reunion with Him, bearing the good with the hard and accepting all as real, but letting none diminish the grand, ultimate sight and sound of His presence. If we are to sing in the company of those who have found wonder through worship, we must be girded by the sword of His Word, be guided by the great ones who have walked this way before, and be patient in knowing that the journey is long and will not be accomplished in a day. But if the feet and the head are facing in the same direction, the emotions will follow as well.
God is like the light. Wonder is like the shadow. If you chase the shadow you will never catch up to it. It might even disappear. If you walk toward the light, the shadow will always pursue you. That is when the heart sings with gladness:
'Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
all the days, all the days of my life.' (John W. Peterson, "Surely Goodness and Mercy.") (164-165)
These three paragraphs summarize what took place in the book. I'm tempted to just quickly finish this review so I can move on to the next thing. After finishing "Gods at War" by Kyle Idleman, I am reminded of how the god of achievement keeps knocking on my door. I want to answer it again, and again, and again. But I can't allow myself to do that. The wonder is knocking too. I just read some absolutely incredible things! I can't just move on to the next thing so quickly. I am constrained to go and worship and pray.
I will finish with 2 quotes that have really challenged me (there are SO many others though lol):
'Thinking is a dying discipline in a society that throbs with activity.'
'If a follower of Jesus does not mature in his or her reading, the church could end up running the biggest nursery in the world.'
August 11, 2012
We Miss It, But What Is It?
A man far smarter than myself, started Chapter 1 of his book with such a question. Blissfully and quickly engaged in the generous free copy of Recapture the Wonder, that Moody Publishers provided to me for this review, I pawed through the first several pages. Suddenly, I was aware that I hadn't actually captured any of the message. Though reading the words, even out loud at points, their meaning slipped through the slats in my mind. Slats created by tiny gaps between streams of constant information: schedules, studies, obligations, requisite "fun" time, etc.
Though his prose are heady and intellectual, as I write this post I'm gaining a better understanding of Ravi Zacharias' message in his new book. Maintaining a sense of wonder in this adult-world is just like my fruitless efforts to grasp Zacharias' intent and retain it. I'm a very capable reader, I have plenty of light, a comfortable chair - all the tools necessary to read this book thoughtfully and to gain insight. And yet, I finished the first chapter as clueless as I began. What is this?
Can you honestly explain wonder? We miss it, but what is it?
A less educated child, the one I'm watching lift her sleepy head off of the bouncy-chair tray. Glassy blue-gray eyes blink at me, slightly out of focus. She's unaware of the drool dripping from her chin or the creases in her cheek from resting on top of her toys. But within seconds, still unaware of herself, she sees her mother. And her eyes snap quickly into focus, a contented, pleased, wonderful smile spreads across her face. She knows what wonder is. She is unaware of herself, but she knows what wonder is.
Zacharias shares the story of walking down a busy street with his wife. They bump and jostle past affluence, ignorance, business and all other walks of life. Then, they notice a homeless man, oblivious to anyone watching, digging desperate and hungry through a dumpster. The story ends there, but imagine if someone had tapped that man on the shoulder and offered him a steaming bowl of chicken soup, a sandwich and water, then walked away without demanding reciprocity. That man would display wonder.
I've struggled with slow digestion as I read Ravi's book. I wish I could hear him read it in his rich, mesmerizing Indian accent. Ah well, the written page will afford me many re-reads. And I will need them. So far, I am considering whether intellect and knowledge - especially self-knowledge - are potential enemies of wonder.
What do you think?
www.predatory-lies.com
A man far smarter than myself, started Chapter 1 of his book with such a question. Blissfully and quickly engaged in the generous free copy of Recapture the Wonder, that Moody Publishers provided to me for this review, I pawed through the first several pages. Suddenly, I was aware that I hadn't actually captured any of the message. Though reading the words, even out loud at points, their meaning slipped through the slats in my mind. Slats created by tiny gaps between streams of constant information: schedules, studies, obligations, requisite "fun" time, etc.
Though his prose are heady and intellectual, as I write this post I'm gaining a better understanding of Ravi Zacharias' message in his new book. Maintaining a sense of wonder in this adult-world is just like my fruitless efforts to grasp Zacharias' intent and retain it. I'm a very capable reader, I have plenty of light, a comfortable chair - all the tools necessary to read this book thoughtfully and to gain insight. And yet, I finished the first chapter as clueless as I began. What is this?
Can you honestly explain wonder? We miss it, but what is it?
A less educated child, the one I'm watching lift her sleepy head off of the bouncy-chair tray. Glassy blue-gray eyes blink at me, slightly out of focus. She's unaware of the drool dripping from her chin or the creases in her cheek from resting on top of her toys. But within seconds, still unaware of herself, she sees her mother. And her eyes snap quickly into focus, a contented, pleased, wonderful smile spreads across her face. She knows what wonder is. She is unaware of herself, but she knows what wonder is.
Zacharias shares the story of walking down a busy street with his wife. They bump and jostle past affluence, ignorance, business and all other walks of life. Then, they notice a homeless man, oblivious to anyone watching, digging desperate and hungry through a dumpster. The story ends there, but imagine if someone had tapped that man on the shoulder and offered him a steaming bowl of chicken soup, a sandwich and water, then walked away without demanding reciprocity. That man would display wonder.
I've struggled with slow digestion as I read Ravi's book. I wish I could hear him read it in his rich, mesmerizing Indian accent. Ah well, the written page will afford me many re-reads. And I will need them. So far, I am considering whether intellect and knowledge - especially self-knowledge - are potential enemies of wonder.
What do you think?
www.predatory-lies.com
May 6, 2012
As I began reading this book, I wondered if it had been written for a significantly different age group. Ravi Zacharias was writing from the point of looking back over life, noticing the disappointments of childhood dreams, observing many an adult who lost his expectancy. That's when I realized that it was for me too. For anyone who is questioning the point of life or the goodness of God or where childhood dreams and a young person's hopes go, for anyone who sees the drudgery of life and not the joy, this book will point you to the source of wonder. Read it in its entirety to discover how to cultivate and keep alive your personal experience of that wonder.
Favorite quotes: "Wonder is that possession of the mind that enchants the emotions while never surrendering reason."
"I find it so interesting that hell is not hard to illustrate. Our daily experience points to so much of hell on earth. Heaven is also not hard to illustrate when we think of it in terms of what it is not -- no death, no tears, no pain. To describe what it is strains the vocabulary and challenges the imagination.... The existential longing for the ultimate in beauty and serenity -- that is heaven."
"Much of the talk we hear around us is on an ignoble theme. Even humor seems to be funny anymore only if it is vulgar. The reason is that humorists have lost the heart of nobility and the skill that is in tune with the heart... Only noble themes lift the spirits to heights of grandeur and the heights of the mind can never be exhausted. Wherever two or three are gathered, noble themes can enrich them and prepare them for the hazards in life."
Favorite quotes: "Wonder is that possession of the mind that enchants the emotions while never surrendering reason."
"I find it so interesting that hell is not hard to illustrate. Our daily experience points to so much of hell on earth. Heaven is also not hard to illustrate when we think of it in terms of what it is not -- no death, no tears, no pain. To describe what it is strains the vocabulary and challenges the imagination.... The existential longing for the ultimate in beauty and serenity -- that is heaven."
"Much of the talk we hear around us is on an ignoble theme. Even humor seems to be funny anymore only if it is vulgar. The reason is that humorists have lost the heart of nobility and the skill that is in tune with the heart... Only noble themes lift the spirits to heights of grandeur and the heights of the mind can never be exhausted. Wherever two or three are gathered, noble themes can enrich them and prepare them for the hazards in life."
August 6, 2013
Ravi himself summarizes the book best in the last few pages with these words (if you plan on reading the book this could spoil some of the journey): "As we look back upon the journey we have traveled, this is what we conclude. The components of gratitude and truth, love and hope bring the realization of wonder. The disciplines of study, of reading, and reflecting, of dialoguing in depth and praying with belief sustains the wonder."
Mainly I am walking away from this read feeling challenged to break out from the status quo of a subpar culture. I am far too prone to see lack rather than be grateful for all the blessings I have (I lean toward a 'glass half empty' vie). I am starved for the wonder sustaining disciplines and instead caught up in the culture of busyness, rather than reflection and thinking.
Overall a good and enjoyable read with his mix of weighty subject matter and clarifying illustrations/story telling. Thought provoking and challenging, but filled with hope and wonder all at once.
Mainly I am walking away from this read feeling challenged to break out from the status quo of a subpar culture. I am far too prone to see lack rather than be grateful for all the blessings I have (I lean toward a 'glass half empty' vie). I am starved for the wonder sustaining disciplines and instead caught up in the culture of busyness, rather than reflection and thinking.
Overall a good and enjoyable read with his mix of weighty subject matter and clarifying illustrations/story telling. Thought provoking and challenging, but filled with hope and wonder all at once.
May 17, 2014
Great book on wonder. It covers how we lose wonder and how man tries to fill the void with temporary pleasure and happiness. It explains what wonder is as well as why we were created to live in wonder and how to find it again.
"Being human we assume that hopes and dreams are made for us and that we are made for them."
"Fulfilled dreams are not necessarily fulfilled hopes."
"To define wonder for an adult before seeing it through the eyes of a child is to miss the marvel of infancy. I think we will find that though childhood is not the solution, it is the clue to the destination."
"Seeking new sensations while violating the sacred first desecrates the self and finally destroys the sensation."
"When you entrust Him with your life, He generates the wonder."
"The first necessary component of wonder is profound gratitude."
"Being human we assume that hopes and dreams are made for us and that we are made for them."
"Fulfilled dreams are not necessarily fulfilled hopes."
"To define wonder for an adult before seeing it through the eyes of a child is to miss the marvel of infancy. I think we will find that though childhood is not the solution, it is the clue to the destination."
"Seeking new sensations while violating the sacred first desecrates the self and finally destroys the sensation."
"When you entrust Him with your life, He generates the wonder."
"The first necessary component of wonder is profound gratitude."
August 9, 2014
all philosophy begins with wonder may die with knowledge, wonder not same as happiness, wonder and music hand and hand, God’s boundaries are worthy and worth protecting something as in rules made to protect the game-tennis, rising expectation and blundered lives, where is hope and wonder, too many gifts, loss of wonder sets stage for evil, bind wonder to God to strengthen, weariness from weary of pleasure, damnation by distractions, lost 50innocence/wonder 60authority 70love 80hope 90reason 00imagination, Chesterton to learn life watch children, Holy Spirit within is source of wonder, start with gratitude, grounded in truth, heaven be a part hope faith to fullest essence.
January 14, 2016
A word for our generation.
This is the first of Ravi Zacharias that I have read. I wasn't sure what to expect. I have heard him speak many times and appreciated his intellectual approach and casual nature. His book held my interest and gab me lots of points to think about. I believe the last chapter did a wonderful job of summing up the book. Until then,I wasn't sure I was even capable of true wonder. But when the last sentence was finished I realised we all experience this sense of awe in our own unique way. Great book.
This is the first of Ravi Zacharias that I have read. I wasn't sure what to expect. I have heard him speak many times and appreciated his intellectual approach and casual nature. His book held my interest and gab me lots of points to think about. I believe the last chapter did a wonderful job of summing up the book. Until then,I wasn't sure I was even capable of true wonder. But when the last sentence was finished I realised we all experience this sense of awe in our own unique way. Great book.
February 17, 2024
This was a great book! And it came to me at just the right time. I needed it. The last chapter was truly marvelous. If you only have time for one chapter read that one. But don't do that. Take the time to read the whole thing. It will be worth it. The rest of the book builds up to the crescendo of the last chapter.
I am afraid that the Christian life has lost its wonder to so many in the church. Many are distracted by so many other things. This book reminds us of what is missing and guides us to recapture the wonder that being a child of the Creator God of the universe provides.
I am afraid that the Christian life has lost its wonder to so many in the church. Many are distracted by so many other things. This book reminds us of what is missing and guides us to recapture the wonder that being a child of the Creator God of the universe provides.
December 1, 2010
Ravi Zacharias is one of the most engaging and insightful communicators on the planet. My only struggle is remember all the profound things that he says. In this particular book, the takeaway is obvious...we need to quit allowing the day to day craziness of life to suck the wonder out of us, and recapture the wonder that we once knew as children, and of course, that wonder is best found in Jesus and the life that he offers to those who follow him.
January 21, 2016
It is a journey like a walk through the woods, over the usual obstacles and around the common distractions, while the voice of direction leads, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it" (Isaiah 30:21 KJV).
Stop chasing shadows. Set you eyes toward the light, no matter how uncomfortable it may be at the start. Because when you focus on the light, you will see this same light in everything else as well.
https://jaymeechristabel.wordpress.co...
Stop chasing shadows. Set you eyes toward the light, no matter how uncomfortable it may be at the start. Because when you focus on the light, you will see this same light in everything else as well.
https://jaymeechristabel.wordpress.co...
June 15, 2008
Ravi uses a lot of good material to illustrate how our culture has "lost the wonder" and where we need to look to get it back. Two of my favorite quotes in the book: "Like a child who suddenly stops sobbing when he is clasped in the arms of his Mother, such will be the grip of heaven upon our souls." "The older we get the more we need somebody bigger than we are to restore what we have lost."
March 29, 2010
This is an excellent and fairly quick read. Ravi Zacharias is the only person I know that can take a devotional topic like recapturing the wonder and infuse it with mini philosophical treatises. I found it to be a very engaging and simultaneously refreshing read, and it was very timely for where I am in my life.
I recommend it for anyone who knows God or aspires to know Him.
I recommend it for anyone who knows God or aspires to know Him.
January 20, 2015
A must read for all Christians!
Components of wonder:
1. Gratitude impels the sense of wonder
2. Truth compels the mind in its convictions
3. Love that is understood and experienced, mind and emotion; Love that will cost you, expressed in commitment lived out
4. Security
Retained by:
1. Reading
2. Reflecting
3. Deep discussion/sharing
4. Prayer
Components of wonder:
1. Gratitude impels the sense of wonder
2. Truth compels the mind in its convictions
3. Love that is understood and experienced, mind and emotion; Love that will cost you, expressed in commitment lived out
4. Security
Retained by:
1. Reading
2. Reflecting
3. Deep discussion/sharing
4. Prayer
May 28, 2008
I would love to read ALL his books. He is sooo deep.... it just amazes me the gift God has given him in writing and speaking so poetically!
This book really takes you back to that place where the innocence of imagination inspires you to continue dreaming and pursuing your heart.
This book really takes you back to that place where the innocence of imagination inspires you to continue dreaming and pursuing your heart.
June 5, 2009
I read this in English, but I couldn't find it on the list in English. It's called "Recapture the Wonder" in English. It's a book about renewed purpose in life.It took a while to read, because Ravi is a very intelligent communicator with depth.
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