The Return

Review: The Prayer Wheel: A Daily Guide to Renewing Your Faith with a Rediscovered Spiritual Practice Patton Dodd, Jana Riess, And David van Biema Convergent 2018 The title intrigued me, and I decided to look at this prayer wheel idea.   At first, I thought it was a gimmicky idea, but as it turns out it’s something more.   The wheel had been used long ago but forgotten until someone looked at the fly leaf of an old ceremonial type bible.   There was a copy of this wheel.   It’s related to an Augustinian guide from the 4 th or 5th century.   Think a remix of the original that a Benedictine order had designed.   Now it’s rediscovered and back in circulation.   The authors of The Prayer Wheel have written a devotional book that uses the prayer wheel.   If a person is willing to work through the devotional, a knowledge of using the prayer wheel would be one of the outcomes.   I found their brief daily offerings ...

Review: You Are the Beloved: Daily Meditations for Spiritual Living Henri J.M. Nouwen Convergent 2017 If you aren’t familiar with the work of Henri Nouwen this compilation from his writings, talks, and letters, as the introduction tells us, will introduce you to him.   If you have read Nouwen before this will remind you over and again how sensitive and loving he was.   And how he demonstrated his ability to speak the truth in love.  I have browsed randomly through many of the entries and each one touched me in some way.   The readings are brief, but not without deep content.   A simple line or two from one of the readings says, “The resurrection does not solve our problems about dying and death…. But it does reveal to us that, in deed, love is stronger than death.”   (104).    I am glad to have discovered this book and intend to use regularly.   I recommend it to you as well.   It does contain a list...

Review: Radical Spirit: 12 Ways to Live a Free and Authentic Life Joan Chittister Convergent 2017 I had heard of this author, but not read any of her work until now.   The front flap says this book contains “twelve simple rules derived from the Rule of Saint Benedict” of which I had little, make that no, prior knowledge.   So, this book initiated me to that way of life and the writing of Chittister.      “Joan Chittister entered the Benedictine Sisters of Erie at the age of 16 and has remained a faithful and instrumental member for over 60 years.” ( http://www.joanchittister.org/about-benedictine-sisters-erie ) “She is one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time. For 40 years she has passionately advocated on behalf of peace, human rights, women’s issues, and church renewal.” ( http://www.joanchittister.org/about-joan-chittister ). In this book, she tells of her own journey through the “12 simple steps.”  ...