After You've Hit the Wall

Here's a great little post from Don Miller's Blog on Following God and Farming. This should help you start your week well. I like what Don has to say here about partnering with God to tend the field we've been given. I like what he has to say about setting good limits.

Sometimes we moms feel like we need to do too much, be too much, and we burn ourselves out by trying to measure up to expectations that exceed our abilities. We can also become discouraged when we compare ourselves to someone else. It's a bad way to hit the wall in winter, crumpled up against life's hard realities with our own dreams of what we might be crushed up against us.

But the crash itself is a good place to start, believe it or not, to find the life we long for. Any ending can become a good beginning. The end of something is always where we have to start from to begin again.

I'm not saying we should aim low. I'm not saying we can't strive for excellence. On the contrary, I think striving for excellence is very satisfying and it honors God. But we need to understand and apply the principle of partnering with God to do our work. We need to begin to see our work as a collaboration, rather than a lone enterprise.

Our abilities, or the lack of them, should only be a guide to how to manage ourselves. They do not need to determine whether we should homeschool. They help us distinguish between the places where we will need to bring in additional resources and the things we can do best ourselves.

So today, read Don Miller's post, and think about how it applies to you. If you're looking for a good winter read, a light book that is refreshing and uplifting, I recommend his A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. You'll find my review of it on The Moonboat Cafe today.

One Writer's Beginnings

In her acclaimed memoir, One Writer's Beginnings, Eudora Welty tells of her childhood reading experiences in the early 1900's in Jackson, Mississippi. Eudora eventually won a Pulitzer Prize for her writing and earned worldwide recognition as one of the finest American fiction writers. I was charmed by her detailed description of the books and reading in her home.

I learned from age two or three that any room in our house, at any time of day, was there to read in, or to be read to. My mother read to me. She'd read to me in the big bedroom in the mornings, when we were in her rocker together, which ticked in rhythm as we rocked, as though we had a cricket accompanying the story. She'd read to me in the diningroom on winter afternoons in front of the coal fire, with our cuckoo clock ending the story with "Cuckoo" and at night when I'd got in my own bed. I must have given her no peace. Sometimes she read to me in the kitchen while she sat churning, and the churning sobbed along with any story . . . She was an expressive reader. When she was reading "Puss in Boots," for instance, it was impossible not to know that she distrusted all cats.

It had been startling and disappointing to me to find out that story books had been written by people, that books were not natural wonders, coming up of themselves like grass. Yet regardless of where they came from, I cannot remember a time when I was not in love with them -- with the books themselves, cover and binding and the paper they were printed on, with their smell and their weight and with their possession in my arms . . .

Neither of my parents had come from homes that could afford to buy many books, but though it must have been something of a strain on his salary, as the youngest officer in a young insurance company, my father was all the while carefully selecting and ordering away for what he and Mother thought we children should grow up with. They bought first for the future . . .

I was presented, from as early as I can remember, with books of my own, which appeared on my birthday and Christmas morning. Indeed, my parents could not give me books enough. They must have sacrificed to give me on my sixth or seventh birthday -- it was after I became a reader for myself -- the ten-volume set of Our Wonder World. These were beautifully made, heavy books I would lie down with on the floor in front of the diningroom hearth, and more often that the rest volume 5, Every Child's Storybook, was under my eyes.

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What are some of your kids' favorite books?

Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

On My Bookshelf: Time Management

Whew. These recent posts about my organizing system were hard for me to write. I used to teach about organization in seminars and I found that much easier . . . That's where I hold up the notebook or page and say, "Look!"

Writing it all down in a way that is easy to read was very challenging. I wasn't sure I was hitting the target, either. It's a tough topic, but it's important. Nearly every homeschooling mother has to work consciously on becoming better organized.

If reading my posts about organizing did not inspire or help you, then you could try Time Management for Unmanageable People. This wonderful book has been my favorite on time management for at least a decade, and it has been loved by many of my friends, as well.

Ann McGee-Cooper and Duane Trammell got it right in their treatise on how to survive our modern world with its multi-tasking demands. The book works because it was crafted by two people of opposite temperaments: he is a structured, detail-oriented administrator; she is an unstructured, big-picture, creative soul. Together they bridged the chasm between these two classic approaches to life and found the middle ground.

They can help you get organized in the way that works for you. If you have always struggled with this area, they will speak to you in ways that are relevant and meaningful. If you are a more structured type, you will benefit from their ideas which will increase your options and help you work with people more effectively. But beyond all this, they share principles that genuinely work for energizing your life and maximizing your efforts.

Chapters include topics like:

• Divergers and Convergers: By Helicopter, or on Foot?
• Messy Desk or Meticulous Order: Assessing Your Style
• Why Traditional Time Management Doesn't Work for Some of Us
• Prioritizing: A Million Shades of Gray
• Scheduling: Making Your Calendar Fun and Functional
• Decontaminating Time: Reclaiming Thirty to Sixty Fresh Hours a Month
• Executive Neglect: Never Get Around to Some Stuff!
• Saying No as Easily as You Say Yes

I never knew, before reading this book, that the topic of time management could be this much fun. McGee-Cooper and Trammell pull it off in style. But they are more than a good time. Their ideas have been tested in the crucible of real life. The best way to use the book is to read thoughtfully and think about how you might apply their discoveries to your homeschool setting.

They also have written a second book, You Don't Have to Go Home From Work Exhausted, which I have never read, but I understand that it is helpful for people who are burned out.

Why am I mentioning burnout at the beginning of the year? Because I know that some of you are realizing, as you face another year, that you are not refreshed. You are still tired. You may even dread, as I did some years, the shouldering of yet another school season. This means you must make changes. You must do less and delegate more. You can discover what and how with Time Management for Unmanageable People .

Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

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Have you ever read a book on time management? Did it help you? Did you enjoy it?

On My Bookshelf: Hearing God

Yesterday, we considered the question, How involved does God mean to be with us? I shared with you my own imaginative take on the events of John 21, because they seem to indicate to me the kind of relationship the resurrected Jesus wants to have with me. Today, I am posting an excerpt from Dallas Willard's Hearing God. This is an excellent guide to how God is involved with us in an intimate way and how we can walk with him in the details of our lives. Willard has an interesting perspective on why Jesus kept showing up after his death and then disappearing again -- something I have never quite understood.

After his resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples in visible form only on a very few occasions over a period of forty days. His main task as their teacher during these days was to accustom them to hearing him without seeing him. Thus it was "through the Holy Spirit" that he gave instructions to his apostles during this period (Acts 1:2). He made himself visible to them just enough to give them confidence that it was he who was speaking in their hearts. This prepared them to continue their conversation with him after he no longer appeared to them visibly.

An instructive scene from these very important days of teaching is preserved in the last chapter of Luke's Gospel. Two of Jesus' heartbroken students were walking to Emmaus, a village about seven miles northwest of Jerusalem. He caught up with them in a visible form that they did not recognize, and he heard their sad story about what had happened to Jesus of Nazareth and about how, it seemed, all hope was now lost.

He responded by taking them through the Scriptures and showing them that what had happened to their Jesus was exactly what was to befall the Messiah that Israel hoped for. Then as they sat at supper with him, suddenly "their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight" (Lk 24:31) But their recognition was much more than a visual recognition, and that was the whole point. They asked one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?"(Lk 24:32)

What were they saying to one another? They were recalling that his words had always affected their heart, their inward life, in a peculiar way. That had been going on for about three years, and no one else had that effect on them. So they were asking themselves, "Why did we not recognize him from the way his words were impacting us? " The familiar "Jesus heartburn" had no doubt been a subject of discussion among the disciples on many occasions.

Soon he would meet with them one final time as a visible presence. There in the beauty and silence of the Galilean mountains, he would explain to them that he had been given authority over everything in heaven and on earth. Because of that they were now to go to every kind of people on earth and make them his students, to surround them with the reality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and to teach them how to do all the things he had commanded.

You can well imagine the small degree of enthusiasm with which these poor fellows rose to greet their assignment. But his final words to them were simply, "Look, I am with you every minute, until the job is done." (Mt 28:20, paraphrase) He is with us now, and he speaks with us and we with him. He speaks with us in our heart, which burns from the characteristic impact of his word. His presence with us is, of course, much greater than his words to us. But it is turned into companionship only by the actual communications we have between us and him, communications that are frequently confirmed by external events as life moves along.

This companionship with Jesus is the form that Christian spirituality, as practiced through the ages, takes. Spiritual people are not those who engage in certain spiritual practices; they are those who draw their life from a conversational relationship with God. They do not live their lives merely in terms of the human order in the visible world; they have "a life beyond."

- Dallas Willard, Hearing God

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What do you think? Does God mean to be involved with us in this way?

Would you be interested in doing a study, using Hearing God and your Bible, on how God communicates with us and on how we can walk in a conversational relationship with Him?

I am considering launching a sister blog, linked to Apple Pie, just for that discussion. Let me hear some feedback from you either in the comments or by email.

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Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

On My Bookshelf: Walking

Packed with practical advice and results from real science, Walking: A Complete Guide to the Complete Exercise by Casey Meyers was a great find when I stumbled upon it at the library this summer. I have been a walker for a long time. I've tried many different techniques and settings. I've gone through injuries, setbacks, illnesses, inspirational journeys, and adventures. Last fall I had an injury that forced me to stop walking for a while. Now I am slowly finding my way back.

Meyers knows walking. He knows the challenges of making exercise work. He understands the traps and pitfalls of daily exercise. He also knows how to make fitness achievable for the average person. I can't imagine anyone reading this book and not being inspired to walk more. Except for the chapter on evolution and the human walking gait, which I skipped, I enjoyed perusing the entire volume. Most helpful were his sections on selecting the right shoes, posture, stretching, and how to turn walking into an aerobic activity that rivals running.

Aside from the health benefits of walking, which Meyers outlines in detail, there are other deeper reasons to walk. I'd be hard-pressed to recommend any change for the homeschooling mom that can top the commitment to walk several days a week. Used properly, this can be the thing that enables you to handle the stress of all that juggling you do. For the last fifteen years, I have solved most of my problems, conquered most of my challenges, and made most of my best decisions while on a walk. Walking was the biggest factor in my recovery from several setbacks to my health. It helped me learn to pray and wait for answers. It gave me a space in which I could enjoy simply observing and pondering. It continues to be a source of inner strength now, after my children have moved on to college. It has deepened my marriage immeasurably, as my husband and I have experienced adventures and discoveries together on our shared walks.

Try it for two months. Start with 15 minutes a day if you don’t exercise regularly and increase by 5 minutes each week until you can walk for 30 minutes every week day. Use that time to rejoice over, to mull over, to pray over your little world. There's nothing like it.

While you're at it, grab a copy of Meyer’s book. He will strengthen your commitment to change and help you see it through.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. Read this overview of the book from Google Books:

“It’s true: walking, the primary gait we use every day, is actually the safest, least expensive, and overall most beneficial way to lose weight and improve cardiovascular health. Casey Meyers was diagnosed in 1995 at high risk for stroke or heart attack, and he has been out daily, walking for his life – literally. Meyers (a fit and active 79) has conducted hundreds of walking clinics nationwide. In this revised and updated classic, he shows you how to achieve a healthier, happier life through exercise-walking. He tells you exactly what you need to know, including:

• Benefits: weight loss, weight maintenance, losing fat, gaining muscle
• Walking guidelines: how often, how far, how fast?
• Pacing yourself: the stroll, brisk walking, and aerobic walking
• Warm-ups: targeted stretches, posture, rhythm, and stride length
• Gear: shoes, socks, and athletic dress for all types of weather
• Safety: best times and places for secure exercise-walking
• Lifestyle: eating smart, yoga, meditation
• Questions and answers: the twelve biggest concerns of exercise-walkers

Walking is unrivaled in depth and breadth, truly comprehensive, and invaluable for exercise. "

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What’s your preferred place to walk? A mall? A neighborhood? A park?

Are your feet happiest on a sidewalk, a paved road, or a trail in the woods?

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Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

A Book Lover's Diary

"In the shop window you have promptly identified the cover with the title you were looking for. Following this visual trail, you have forced your way through the shop past the thick barricade of Books You Haven't Read, which were frowning at you from the tables and shelves, trying to cow you . . . And thus you pass the outer girdle of ramparts, but then you are attacked by the infantry of Books That If You Had More Than One Life You Would Certainly Also Read But Unfortunately Your Days Are Numbered. With a rapid maneuver you bypass them and move into the phalanxes of the Books You Mean To Read But There Are Others You Must Read First, the Books Too Expensive Now And You'll Wait Till They're Remaindered, the Books Ditto When They Come Out In Paperback, Books You Can Borrow From Somebody, Books That Everybody's Read So It's As If You Had Read Them, Too. "

- Italo Calvino, If on a Winter's Night a Traveler, quoted in A Book Lover's Diary (Firefly Books 1996)

Many times I have found myself staring at bookshelves with my mind not quite fully present. In libraries, used bookstores, coffee shops -- anywhere they are loaned or sold.

"I can't remember which book I wanted so badly. What was the title of that fabulous volume on building a strong marriage? How about that Victorian novelist I've been meaning to try? And wasn't there a book on woodworking that my husband would love for his birthday? Is this the one? "

Then there are the conversations I get into which are about books. I have been stopped midsentence, more often than I would like to remember, because I can't recall the title of a book I read several years ago. It might be a book I disliked, dropped before I finished, or one that I loved and lived in. I still forget their titles and author's names. I always have this sneaky feeling that I am disrespecting these writers and their hard work when I can't remember them. But even more uncomfortable is the feeling that such a book would help a particular person and it's right outside the reach of my mind at the moment.

A friend helpfully offered to me, on several recent occasions, that "forgetfulness is part of the life around menopause. You will get your memory back when it's over." But honestly, this has been going on for a very long time. Once I had children and began to lose sleep, my mental prowess lost some of it's edge. Or maybe it was that I was suddenly keeping up with so much more inside my head.

Regardless, I have been rescued.

I stumbled across A Book Lover's Diary (Firefly 1996) online while shopping for journals this winter. The description sounded too good to pass up. When I found a good used volume at ABE Books for $1.00, I ordered it immediately. This was a very smart decision.

The book's dimensions are about the size of a large index card. It has just over 125 pages. Its hardcover binding makes it sturdy enough to withstand frequent use and travel. It fits neatly into my purse, tote, suitcase, or book bag. The pages are made of silky paper that readily absorbs the ink from my pen.

The contents include pages on which I can record:

• Books I want to read
• Books I have read, either by title, author, or by subject
• Books I want to own
• The sharing of books (loans, gifts, possibilities)
• Notes and information pertaining to book groups
• Book passages (quotes, their significance)
• Address Section for libraries, bookstores, book groups, and all places related to books

I have asked some of my bloggy friends how they keep track of this kind of information. Some of them keep it in the same place where they record what their children are reading. Others keep records in a computer file, or on a blog they host, or in an online program. One person I know just keeps a running list on an index card that he wears in his shirt pocket. These options all sound intriguing.

Except for one thing. They don't work for me.

I would have to remember the list and take it with me. I lose track of index cards and floating pieces of paper after a day or two. If I recorded my book lists with school records, then I would have to bring the school notebook with me or pull out a page of the school notebooks. If I used a computer, I would need to print out the information and take it along. I would also have to make new copies when I made updates.

Most of my book adventures are not planned in advance. Libraries and bookstores are a place where I relax, rather than a destination I plan to reach. Even more frustrating, I often find myself there unexpectedly. As we are doing other errands, we see an inviting bookstore and walk in the door, and there I am -- trying to remember again. I need something portable and of significant size and weight to stay with me. I need something that carries in a permanent way the trail of ideas and authors I have entertained.

This little book did all that for me. I am actually using it. Sometimes I do write my information on the wrong page. There are days when my handwriting is full of errors and I must strike through a line and make a mess (arrrggghhh) on the silky paper, but it's my mess -- my very own, messy trail through the joys of the written word.

I'm glad I found it.

Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

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Have you ever had this problem? How do you keep track of your books?

Make Way for the Ducklings

On Monday evening, we walked on the golf course in our neighborhood. At the seventh hole, a mother duck and her ten newly born ducklings suddenly emerged. She was very surprised to see us. It was obvious that she was accustomed to the patterns of people coming and going. Golfers were usually gone by the time we arrived. She put her head down and watched us from the grass at the water's edge.

The ducklings were a circus. They had no idea of proper order. Straggling around her and making plentiful noises, they were a motley crew of fluff balls heading in every direction. Clearly, more training was needed.

I said to my husband, "Let's move off the path over to the grass on the fairway." We did, and Mother Duck relaxed as she saw behavior she recognized in humans. Hard as it was not to stare, I purposefully looked away.

A minute later, when I looked back, she was showing her brood how to eat bugs from the mud. The ducklings, distracted by all the sights around them, were chattering in happy excitement. This was a big event for them. Soon, I figured, they would be hungry enough to pay attention. For now, they were getting one of their first glances at the big, wonderful world into which they had been born.

Later that evening, as I was thinking of the ducklings and smiling, I remembered a book that was one of our favorites. Make Way for the Ducklings, was written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey in 1941 for children. It's warm, funny, and engaging. McCloskey deserved the Caldecott Medal he won in 1942 for his illustrations. I learned recently that it has become the Official Children's Book for Massachusetts. I can't think of a better choice.

Here's encouragement to go to the library one summer day. Find the book. Read it to yourself, or to your kids, if they are ten years old or younger. While you are at it, fill everyone's arms with books to try. Pick up a simple treat for the family on the way home. Declare " Book Day! " and enjoy your books together with some music playing softly in the background and your treats out on the table. We loved our Book Days. When we were struggling, the weather was unsavory, or we were bored and listless, a Book Day was our holiday of choice. We all piled on the couch with our borrowed treasures and ventured into other worlds, times, and places with them. We made many new discoveries and learned about things we would not have known otherwise. Often, these discoveries led to interesting school courses, hobbies, favorite authors, gifts, even trips and new friends.

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My kids were allowed to earn school credits for the books they read in the summer. This encouraged them to keep reading and reminded me to integrate the things we learned casually into the rest of their year. When we came home from the library, I either saved the list that the library printed for us, or I wrote the books down in a notebook. If there were ideas from the books they read which they wanted to try, we either made time for this in the summer months or planned projects for the school year.

Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

Passages for Reflection

Celtic Blessing

Deep peace of the running water to you,

Deep peace of the flowing air to you,

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,

Deep peace of the shining stars to you,

Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.

- source unknown

A Hermit's Desire

I wish, ancient and eternal King,

to live in a hidden hut in the wilderness.

A narrow blue stream beside it, and a clear pool

for washing away my sins by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

A beautiful wood all around,

where birds of every kind of voice can grow up and find shelter.

Facing southwards to catch the sun,

with fertile soil around it suitable for every kind of plant.

And virtuous young men to join me,

humble and eager to serve you . . .

A lovely church, with a white linen cloth over the altar,

a home for you from heaven.

A Bible surrounded by four candles, one for each of the gospels.

A special hut in which to gather for meals,

talking cheerfully as we eat, without sarcasm, without boasting, without any evil words.

Hens laying eggs for us to eat, leeks growing near the stream,

salmon and trout to catch, and bees providing honey.

Enough food and clothing given by you,

and enough time to sit and pray to you.

- attributed to St. Kevin, 6th century

Psalm 33

The earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

- ESV

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I discovered the first two passages in 2000 Years of Prayer , compiled by Michael Counsell ( Morehouse Publishing 1999). I was charmed by their simplicity. Hundreds of years old, they retain their freshness and their power. May you be blessed today by the delights of the simple things that surround you -- the beauty of the earth, the faces of your loved ones, the joys of fellowship.

Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

On My Bookshelf: Your Life

"Don't rummage around in your past for 'important' events -- events you think are important enough to justify asking the rest of us to read about them. Write about small, self-contained incidents that are still vivid in your memory. If you remember them, it's because they contain a larger truth that your readers will recognize in their own lives. Think small and you'll wind up finding the big themes . . . "

- William Zinsser, Writing About Your Life

Since we have been talking about cultivating a private world, writing in journals, and the value of small things, it seems like a good time to share with you my favorite book for personal narratives. It's a delightful read, even if you aren't interested in ever writing for anyone else. Once I picked up William Zinsser's Writing About Your Life, it became my gold standard for writing nonfiction. Not only does he teach his lessons with stories which are very accessible, he models them by writing about his own experiences. Along the way, he inspired me to live the fullest life I can, rather than simply doing what others expect and choosing safer, duller paths.

The book came to me at just the right time last February. I was casting about for my mission, searching for a sense of who I was as a writer. I found myself, as a soul with a story to tell, in Zinsser's stories. He drew me in, taught me, inspired me, and sent me forth with a clear vision of why I should share it with others. Something inside of me that has long doubted my own unique voice was nourished, mended, and restored.

" Who gave you permission to think that your story will interest the rest of us?

" Well, I give you permission. All writers are embarked on a quest of some kind, and you're entitled to go on yours. My purpose in this book is to give you the permission and the tools . . ."

That's exactly what he did for me.

Writing About Your Life could also be a great book to share with your high school students. I would recommend following it up with his book On Writing Well, which could serve as a textbook or reference book. Zinnser's instruction is ideal for students who like to write, write easily, and have a lot to say, but who lack discipline and shrink back from editing. He clearly shows why editing is essential. The years he spent teaching composition at Yale serve him well: he's a great instructor. He knows what to emphasize and what the student probably can figure out for himself. He doesn't waste the reader's time, but he doesn't pamper the young writer either. He is straightforward in his instruction, respectful in his tone, very honest, and highly practical in his advice and examples. But be forewarned: this is material for the mature student. By this, I don't mean that the subject matter is unsuitable for younger students, only that they might not connect with Zinsser personally until they are older. My estimation is that 10th or 11th grade is a great time to introduce your student to these books. I anticipate that some of you may eagerly try to use the book in the middle school years. Some of you may even write back to me that your elementary grade student loved it. In the homeschool community, we all know students who are the exception to the rule. Still, I wouldn't recommend it that soon. Here's why: any earlier than high school, and many of Zinsser's lessons would probably not have their full, intended impact. Your student may enjoy the stories, but will likely miss or not be able to fully apply the lessons from the book. Of course, you can always read the book first yourself, and then decide when to introduce it.

For now, I suggest that you find a copy of Writing About Your Life. Read it -- just for the joy of it. Then ask yourself what the book might be saying to you about your own life. Do you have a story to tell? Do you have a life that matters? We should not despise the day of small things, but go forward with boldness and share what we have been given.

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Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

On My Bookshelf: An Invitation

To seek to fill a book with words about moving beyond words into solitude and silence is a daunting task; it is laughable really, if one sees the irony in it all. I have found myself . . . drawn to the task and yet somehow strangely resistant. On the one hand, I have been drawn to the task because my journey into solitude and silence has been the single most meaningful aspect of my spiritual life to date. . . . On the other hand, I am aware of the continuing challenge solitude and silence represent in my own life. Even though it has been well over ten years since I first said yes to God's invitations to enter more intentionally into these disciplines, I still find it challenging to protect space for these times apart which so deeply satisfy the empty places of my soul.

- Ruth Haley Barton

For those of us who are wanting to learn more about the benefits of quiet time, there is a slim volume entitled An Invitation to Silence and Solitude. In this little book, Ruth Haley Barton shares openly about her own personal discoveries from sitting still with God. The book earns it's 2005 Book Award from Christianity Today through it's crisp and elegant writing, it's universal appeal, and it's relevance to our lives. I found Barton's honesty deeply engaging. It was hard to put down the book.

I am richer and wiser through Barton's sharing, and I have been inspired to move into the landscape she has traveled. Although I have read reviews warning against the expectation that God would speak to us personally by giving us impressions, convictions, or ideas, and even against Barton's book in particular, I did not have any problems theologically with her story or her helpful suggestions. Barton is clearly in the center of centuries of Christian and Jewish traditions and is on sound scriptural ground. In addition to this, her voice is authentic and vulnerable: she does not ask us to do anything she has not done. She is not telling us what to do; rather, she is sharing from the perspective of a fellow traveler on the spiritual landscape.

I like, very much, some of her practical ideas to try. They can be used just as they are, or serve as a springboard for your own spiritual exercises. If your prayer life seems to be lacking something, this may be just what you've needed to help you move into a richer relationship with God. The book is short, and therefore very achieveable. The ideas are deep, but they are simply presented, and easy on tired eyes and minds.

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Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

On My Bookshelf: Coffee and Truth

"If you grew up in the church, you might have been taught that passion is sinful. The spiritual passion that is evidenced by a consuming desire for God might have gotten obscured by all the warnings against lust, envy, pride, and greed, as if passion were concerned only with the satisfaction of sinful appetites. Don't lose the full meaning of this word. A driving hunger for God is passion at its best. Give yourself the freedom to enjoy the excitement and adventure of pursuing God with all your spiritual passion. "

-Leonard Sweet, The Gospel According to Starbucks

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."

- Jesus, The Gospel of Mark

I stumbled across The Gospel According to Starbucks by Leonard Sweet at the bookstore where my son works. It looked like fun, so I gave it to my husband for Christmas. I was intrigued by the premise of the book. Apparently, I am not the only one. You can read a good review of it here.

The book ended up in my lap one winter afternoon. I was captured and held by Sweet's insistence on our need to experience God and engage in the life He offers us in a more active way. I am an evangelical, strong in the study of the Word of God, and careful to line up my thinking with the teachings of Jesus. Still, there is a lot that I miss.

Sweet uses the remarkable success of Starbucks to illustrate a point. They have effectively reached people. If we look at why, we see how people are designed. The life that God offers us is deliberately, thoughtfully, lovingly constructed by the One who created us and knows us best. He can satisfy our longings, but only if we fully engage in a life with Him. In reading Sweet's book, I could see that I have missed some things along the way, not only for myself, but for others with whom I might discuss my faith.

He uses the Starbucks strategy as a springboard to give us a fresh look at the life of faith. From there, he outlines a Gospel that is EPIC:

E -- experiential

P -- participatory

I -- image-rich

C -- connective

EPIC faith, he claims, is fully engaging and powerfully alluring to people. I think he has it right, even if I disagreed with him on some minor details. The book challenged me to think beyond inductive Bible studies and correct doctrine. Those things are crucial, but by themselves they are incomplete. God wants us to have more.

Most engaging for me were his discussions of adventure, passionate pursuit, beauty, the use of image, and the centrality of experience and participation. I don't agree with all of his statements. Some parts of the book read like a comercial for Starbucks. There are other spots where I want more clarity from him or I wish he would express his idea in a different way. But I found myself riveted by his fresh approach. He challenged me. I know I am going to read the book a second time, maybe even a third. That speaks for itself.

As Sweet says, "We can't help but seek life on an EPIC scale, because God designed us that way. The life God designed us for is experiential, participatory, image-rich, and connective. The life of faith, to fully qualify as a life of faith, is characterized by experiences that are meaningful; full participation in those experiences of meaning; a richness of imagery wrapped around those experiences; and deep connections with God, others, self, and creation. All four EPIC elements, enlivened and intertwined, deliver grande passion, the life we're all thirsty for.

"Don't wait until next week. Don't cheat yourself out of another moment of the EPIC life . . . Why put off grande passion when it's right there within your reach?"

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Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.

On My Bookshelf

I have just finished a delightful little book called How Starbucks Saved My Life, by Michael Gates Gill. It's a true story about his recent and not-so-recent life. He was born in an upper-class family in New York, went to Harvard, and enjoyed a job as an advertising executive in the city. In his fifties, he lost his job and went through some serious troubles. Down on his luck, he wandered into a Starbucks and ran into a manager who offered him a job. He took it, and found a new life.

His honesty is mesmerizing. I kept wondering as I read, can I be that honest ? He writes simply, but the elegance of authenticity makes his writing poignant and memorable. It's a great story.

Gill insists that his experiences are not a spiritual journey. I would argue otherwise. Here we can find humility, confession, contrition, repentance, love, fellowship, and purpose. He traces his steps from deception to truthfulness. He learns to love and honor others, and as he does that he also learns to follow his heart.

The book feels light, and it's not too long, just like the perfect summer novel -- but it's meaningful and rewarding. My guess is you'll be glad you listened to him tell his story.

I found it, I confess, at Borders on clearance for $2.99. What a deal.

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Please note: I did not receive any compensation or free merchandise in exchange for my written review or my opinion about this book.