In her book Help Thanks Wow, writer Anne Lamott describes “WOW” as one of three essential prayers. She writes, “When we are stunned to a place beyond words, when an aspect of life takes us away from being able to chip away at something until it’s down to a manageable size and then to file it nicely away, when all we can say in response is ‘Wow,’ that’s a prayer.”

I love thinking of “WOW!” as a prayer. I just returned from a retreat in Boone, North Carolina. If you’ve never been to this part of the country, it’s breathtakingly beautiful. The center was nestled in the mountains, with incredible views and an abundance of WOWs.

One morning, several people gathered at the reception area to watch the sunrise. As it peaked over the mountains, my friend Diana whispered, “There it is.” It was like we were waiting to catch a glimpse of someone famous.

Watching the sun rising slowly, especially in a setting as amazing as a mountainside retreat, can be quite emotional. It felt like a prayer coming to life.

Standing in reverent silence, I felt like a tiny speck in a vast, beautiful world. Sharing the morning with a friend created a peaceful and special bond for the rest of the day. Seeing the reactions of the community of strangers around us made me realize how much beauty we take for granted.

The sun always rises, but how often do we stop to watch? I asked myself, “What else should I be appreciating?”

“‘Wow’ is about having one’s mind blown by the mesmerizing or the miraculous: the veins in a leaf, birdsong, volcanoes,” Anne Lamott writes. “Gorgeous, amazing things come into our lives when we are paying attention.”