Wake Up to Wonder - by Karen Wright Marsh

About the Book

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.

Book Synopsis

In her quest to live a vibrant spiritual life, Karen Wright Marsh had a revelation: 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 knew: 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

From the Back Cover

A life of spiritual depth, amazement, and connection is within reach--today and every day

In her quest to live a vibrant spiritual life, Karen Wright Marsh had a revelation: she didn't need to follow the perfect plan; she needed people she could follow. Grounded in the embodied spirituality of Christians who have lived it best, Wake Up to Wonder introduces twenty-two playful, simple practices that bring deeper meaning and purpose to everyday life.

Covering topics such as physical health, prayer, activism, Scripture reading, and creativity, Wake Up to Wonder guides us toward living a centered, abundant life. Each chapter includes hands-on invitations such as writing prompts and "Try This," a collage of spiritual and personal experiments anyone can do.

"Get ready to meet a delightful assortment of fellow travelers who will guide you 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; author of Love Is the Way and Crazy Christians

"Marsh's beautiful new book introduces readers 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 a way to wonder and joy."
--James Martin, SJ, author of The Jesuit Guide

"I was surprised by how much I needed the spiritual sustenance that Wake Up to Wonder offers. Marsh invites us to nurture our own wellsprings of wonder."
--Barbara A. Holmes, core faculty at the Center for Action and Contemplation; author of Joy Unspeakable, Race and the Cosmos, and Crisis Contemplation

"Marsh has helped to root my soul in a deeper awareness of meaning and purpose."
--Jon Foreman, front man for Grammy Award-winning rock band Switchfoot

"Marsh successfully combines the wisdom of spiritual masters with her own down-to-earth insights to provide an easily accessible toolkit for those who are seeking an antidote to the stress and chaos of the modern world."
--Sister Monica Clare, CSJB, TikTok influencer

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 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.