A Review of “We Wonder” Podcasts
A Review of the “We Wonder” Podcast
by Cynthia S.Fischer
There is a gem hidden in your podcasts called “We Wonder: Contemplative Bible Storytelling for Children and Adults.” It is currently featuring daily Advent stories but it offers Scripture stories daily throughout the year.
Sarah Dahl is the creator and writer. She is a graduate of Wheaton College and Luther Seminary
The podcast is an example of reflective engagement pedagogy. The Scripture story is told slowly, allowing the listener to slow down and consider anew God’s Words. Instrumental music plays underneath the telling of the story. At the conclusion, Dahl asks wondering questions and closes with a meditative prayer.
Below is the description of “We Wonder” from their website.
About We Wonder
Plenty of wonderful resources exist to teach children about the Bible. This podcast invites children into an immersive, contemplative experience of the words of Scripture. We make space for their responses and questions, and guide them in a prayerful engagement with the story. And we remember, always, that God is drawing close to us in love as we make space for the Holy Spirit to speak through our sacred text.
We want to invite children into a life of wonder, engagement, and curiosity about the Bible. Children's spiritual lives are real and vibrant: they are known and loved by God as they are right now, not just as grownups in training! That's why, on this podcast, we allow children the space to enter God's good words together, wonder about them, and talk with God about what we find.
We Wonder’s Statement of Faith
We believe the Scriptures are "the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through Jesus Christ," that they are God-breathed, and that the Holy Spirit works in and through our engagement with these ancient texts to build God's people up in faith, hope, and love (2 Timothy 3:15-17). We believe they belong to all of God's people: that the people, stories, poems, and assurances of Scripture should be the furniture of a child's imagination. We also believe that children should be encouraged to wonder about, push back on, and actively engage God as they encounter these writings. God is not afraid of their questions, and is big enough for anything they could wonder! We want to come alongside parents, who are the primary spiritual caregivers to their children, and help foster a lifetime of passionate engagement with and pursuit of the God who so deeply loves them and calls out to all of us in these inspired words.
This is an excellent resource for families. The podcasts are brief, but their impact is deep. Try one for yourself before introducing it to your family. Then find a time when your family can slow down and listen together or set it up as a bedtime devotional. If I could change one thing it would be to lengthen the time that follows each wondering question. As this is a podcast, the producers likely couldn’t extend the playing time, but you can by pausing after each wondering statement.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.