I am one of those types of people who read two or three books at one time. Come to my house and you will find books in multiple places. Whenever I find an extra minute or two, my nose dives into the pages.
What am I currently reading to nourish my spirituality?
Everyday Greatness by Stephen Covey.
I received this book through the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program. It attracted my attention as I usually like Stephen Covey’s material, finding it uplifting and informative.
Everyday Greatness is living each day with character and contribution. It is a way of life not a one time five minutes of glory that the media loves to exploit. He writes, “It speaks more about people’s motives than about their talents; more about small simple deeds than about grandiose accomplishments. It is humble.”
What I like about his book is I can read it in tiny pieces – small stories that inspired you to think beyond yourself.
My disappointment is that the book isn’t written by Covey though his name is splashed all over the front cover. Looking close it reads: Insights and commentary by Stephen Covey, compiled by David K. Hatch. The book is still packed with wisdom but I feel the reader – me for example – was mislead.
He invites the readers to ask ourselves: To what ends or purpose are your daily choices leading? Is your life in harmony with timeless universal principles? What are you contributing on daily basis? Each section contains thought provoking questions and great collection of quotes.
How does this book feed my spirit? Reading how others rise above their day to day struggles inspires me to try once again to be who God calls me to be. The world can really beat us up sometimes and this book gives the encouragement and hope to keep on.
Prayerfulness – Awakening to the fullness of life by Robert Wicks
Wicks is one of my favorite authors so I was excited to find this new book on a topic I love to read about – Prayer. This book is one to read slowly, chew on in small bites and absorb its wisdom by letting its words seep deep into your soul.
Wicks defines prayerfulness as “in its purist form, true receptivity to the essential lessons needed to live a full life… a sense of spiritual mindfulness in our daily encounters so we can be open to the new lessons with which God continually graces us.”
Prayer is at the center of all our spiritual growth and this book exposes you to new insights to our inner journeys. God invites us to live fully with this gift of life He has given us. Developing that awareness to all the lessons God surrounds us with is a key message in this book.
He lists three approaches to prayerfulness.
1. We must attentively listen, read and review the spiritual teachings we wish to form us. Be intentional about your growth
2. We must be willing to overlearn what we have been taught. This takes time and study.
3. Only through practice, practice, and practice will we know for sure if the important teachings have taken roots deep within our souls.
This gives me hope. So often I read a great thought and highlight a truth in a book only to forget it. I journal a deep desire one day and find out three years later I am no closer to that dream now than when I first identified it. When I live with spiritual mindfulness I am aware of all the lessons surrounding me that nourishes my roots and helps me to grow.
How does this book feed my spirit? Living prayerfully is a life long process – so I am gentler with myself now. Being aware of God’s constant presence in all that encompasses my life helps me live a fuller life. God is the perfect gardener to nourish my spiritual roots to grow closer to him.
What are you reading to nourish your roots?
Hi Jean – thanks for visiting my blog. I have just finished reading ‘Finding Happiness’ by Abbot Christopher Jamison – its very thought provoking. And I am half way through ‘The Holy Way’ by Paula Huston – I can pick this up and put it down whenever. I am also dipping in and out of ‘Awareness’ by Anthony de Mello. So yes – I usually have lots of books on the go at once.
In the morning and evening I currently use ‘Prayers to Start the Day’ and ‘Prayers to Close the Day’ by David O’Malley but sometimes switch to ‘Prayer Rhythms for Busy People’ by Ray Simpson.
Signed up for your blog updates and newsletter! Regards, Kath
http://kathwilliamson.blogspot.com/
Right now, I am reading A SLOW BURN by Mary DeMuth for a blog review next week! Yikes, it’s next week. Insightful for abused relationships even though it’s fiction.
I can’t read two or three books at a time. I tend to confuse easily. 🙂
Clella, even the difficult gotta plow through books contain treasures, don’t they?
I’m reading WHEN WALLFLOWERS DANCE by Angela Thomas and FACING YOUR GIANTS by Lucado and trying to read an old book THE FOUNTAINHEAD by Ayn Rand, but I am finding rather “difficult” even though I appreciate her talented writing. another good post Jean