January 2026
Savoring Awe
By Timothy Cap Diebel
One of the most arresting natural images that has stayed with me from my time in college is the vision, on the way to the campus library, of a leafless tree in wintertime, illuminated from behind by a lamp. Stunned by the web-like design that came to life in the branches through the lighting, I stared at it in awe for a long while, letting seconds pass in stillness. Timothy Cap Diebel’s Savoring Awe urges us to deeply breathe in moments such as this.
In the book, Diebel encourages us to better acquaint ourselves with viriditas—the spirit of living—by letting awe fill our souls. He reflects not only on the more monumental sights he has come across in nature but also on the “wordlessly marvelous in the commonplace,” such as sitting at a friend’s bedside, and invites others to do the same. This simple read reminds us to first seek an understanding of our
“capacity for awe” and then consciously choose to savor it.
—Njoki Mukuria, editorial assistant, U.S. Catholic
This unique “companion” for the spiritually adventurous explores both the awe and the savoring in twelve chapters that include both stories, quotes from others, examples, line drawings, and questions for reflection and discussion. —ACTA Publications
Paperback: $18.95
Available at bookstores or from ACTA Publications at actapublications.com
