"Seasons of Wonder" (Bonnie Smith Whitehouse)

TITLE: Seasons of Wonder: Making the Ordinary Sacred Through Projects, Prayers, Reflections, and Rituals: A 52-week devotional
AUTHOR: Bonnie Smith Whitehouse
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Convergent Books, 2022, (368 pages).
 

Spirituality is essentially learning to notice and appreciate the ordinary. Christian Spirituality is to do the same with the perspective of Christ. Author Bonnie Smith Whitehouse has chosen the theme of seasons to help us through all 52 weeks of the year to do just that. She uses the Western Church liturgical seasons, special days, and metaphors to aid our reflections. These are then organized with a solar-liturgical calendar to give us a nice circular diagram of how to enjoy the different seasons of wonder. The purpose of this book is to enable readers to gather our thoughts, our community, and ourselves at any time of the year to reflect upon God. Guided by the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and the Lectionary, she affirms that the "circle of the liturgical year transforms our days into sacred time." Her theme each month is as follows:

1. January - Transcend Dualities
2. February - Discover Contemplation
3. March - Embrace Mystery
4. April - Welcome Incarnation
5. May - Adore Creation
6. June - Come Alive
7. July - Cultivate Resilience
8. August - Cherish the Holy Pause
9. September - Gather Courage
10. October - Light a Fire
11. November - Point to Love
12. December - Look for the Light

For each month, she begins with a brief reflection on the meaning of the month, the significance of time, the season, and a creation care challenge. She then leads us week by week through spiritual exercises such as the Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, Washing of Feet, the Examen, the Eucharist, etc. Other practical exercises include baking, cleaning the closet, cooking, weaving, making floral arrangements, and even praying for the compost bin! There are many common everyday activities that one could reflect upon and learn to experience the wonder of God's creation and creative empowerment. With this book, readers can find a consolidated set of themes conveniently arranged according to the Church seasons, the meaning of ordinary months, and especially the wonder of appreciating ordinary things in our ordinary moments. 

The author covers many other things and offers us a host of activities and thoughts to reflect upon. Some of the activities involve certain practices often associated with the Roman Catholic tradition. This includes the use of the rosary, chanting, praying the "Hail Marys," making icons, walking barefoot, etc. While I do encourage readers (especially those from evangelical circles) to be open to an understanding before judging anything, those who are uncomfortable could easily skip these portions without missing the essence of the book. Talking about the rosary, I find that instead of being distracted by the need to pray "Hail Mary," using the rosary beads can aid one's prayer and focus on God. Of course, one can always improvise with other alternatives such as using the computer keyboard. With each key one presses, say A, one can start imagining words beginning with the letter A to reflect on the goodness and the Word of God. The principle is clear. Use the things of this world to help us think thoughts of God. At any time or season of our lives, if we can be guided to love and to know God more, why not?

Finally, let me say that this is a unique work of art and spirituality. The author has given us lots of food for thought and creativity to help us notice the ordinary things of this world and turn it into moments of noticing God's hand at work. We can do this each day of the week. 

Smith Whitehouse, PhD, is a writer and professor who studies storytelling, creativity, contemplation, and wonder. She is the author of Seasons of Wonder: A Guide to Making the Ordinary Sacred with Projects, Prayers, Reflections, and Rituals; Nautilus Award winner Afoot and Lighthearted: A Journal for Mindful Walking; and Kickstart Creativity: 50 Prompted Cards to Spark Inspiration. She has spent the last twenty years as a lay leader of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Chapel at Vanderbilt University. Bonnie is professor of English and director of the honors program at Belmont University, and she lives in Nashville with her family.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Convergent Books, Random House, and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.