27 August 2019

'wonder' quote from Chesterton

I recently came across a lovely quote, attributed to G.K. Chesterton, saying that we are perishing for lack of wonder. My first thought was that it would be a good quote to share with Godly Players, and my second was that you can't always be sure that these quotes, or their attributions, are accurate. So I did a bit of snuffling around online. Several people quote it, including in published books, but I couldn't find that quote in a work by Chesterton himself... at first. But now I've got it. The wondering is slightly different but the sentiment is the same, and I'm happy to share it in Chesterton's own, actual words:
The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder. 
G.K. Chesterton, Tremendous Trifles

01 May 2019

I wonder where you are...

At the end of a sacred story, we may invite those in the circle to locate themselves in the story: I wonder where you are in this story.

Today, (the festival of Philip and James, Apostles) I took a midweek Communion service for a small congregation of retired people. In the sermon slot I showed them a red stole, painted by Yvonne Bell, depicting a worshipping communion of saints.

Without any experience of the Godly Play wondering questions, one woman, after the service was over, gently took hold of the stole and said, "I have to find myself in this stole."

an elderly woman's hand holds the end of a red stole, painted with yellow and orange human figures of different shapes and sizes, with a white dove hovering above them
"Where am I in this stole?"