• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Legal Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Speaking
  • Healthy Spirituality Store
  • Resources
  • Bio
  • Healthy Spirituality Gift Guide

Summer Reading

July 23, 2019 By Jean Wise

summer reading

What is on your summer reading pile?

I like to periodically update you all on what I am currently reading.

Here are three I have read lately that are lingering in my mind and heart:

A Prayer Journal – Flannery O’Connor

Interesting collection of journal entries of writer Flannery O’Connor written between 1946 and 1947.   Most are her prayers/conversations with God and her discernment as she discovers herself as a writer.

What a great writer even in her journal entries. Lovely words like this:

“Dear God, I cannot love Thee the way I want to. You are the slim crescent of a moon that I see and my self is the earth’s shadow that keeps me from seeing all the moon. The crescent is beautiful and perhaps that is all one like I am should or could see; but what I am afraid of, dear God, is that my self shadow will grow so large that it blocks the whole moon, and that I will judge myself by the shadow that is nothing. I do not know you God because I am in the way. Please help me to push myself aside. “

Wow, what a prayer and one I am bringing into my own journaling and time with God.  Also, this inspires me to be as honest and creative in my own jottings.

Sensible Shoes – A story about the spiritual journey by Sharon Garlough Brown

I rarely read fiction, but a friend told me about this book I borrowed from the library. Seeing the tag line you can tell why I loved the story and how each character discovered herself in God on their own individual’s paths.

summer readingblank

Sensible Shoes tells the story of four women coming from very different lives who meet at a retreat center. Their stories weave together, a little predictably ( my issue with many fictional books).  I love how spiritual practices are introduced and experienced through the characters and how readers see what talking with a spiritual director is like.

Discovered this is the first in a series so guess I will be reading more fiction this summer. ( :

The First Principle and Foundation of Ignatian Spirituality

Written in the 1400s by St Ignatius but still resonates with our deepest desire and yearning today.

Recently I reread this version paraphrased by Jesuit David Fleming.  I have printed the words into my journal for my daily prayer and to help frame my intention for my upcoming silent retreat in August.

The goal of our life is to live with God forever.
God who loves us, gave us life.
Our own response of love allows God’s life to flow into us without limit.

All the things in this world are gifts from God,
presented to us so that we can know God more easily
and make a return of love more readily.

As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God
insofar as they help us develop as loving persons.
But if any of these gifts become the center of our lives,
they displace God and so hinder our growth toward our goal.

In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance
before all of these created gifts insofar as we have a choice
and are not bound by some obligation.

We should not fix our desires on health or sickness,
wealth or poverty, success or failure, a long life or short one.
For everything has the potential of calling forth in us
a deeper response to our life in God.

Our only desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better
leads to the deepening of God’s life in me.

— St. Ignatius as paraphrased by David l. Fleming, S.J.

What summer reading is transforming your heart and life this year?

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

Filed Under: book review, spiritual practices

Comments

  1. blankNancy Ruegg says

    July 23, 2019 at 6:00 pm

    I always love to read about what others are reading and often pick up tips for books to put on my wish list. Also appreciate that prayer of St. Ignatius. It resonates with my heart also. So glad you included it, Jean! I’ve been rereading some of Jan Karon’s Mitford series, which was first released starting in the early 1990s, I think. Her books include delightful characters and ingenious plot threads and twists, and she writes in a very winsome style. Also read recently: Unseen by Sara Hagerty, which is excellent, and am currrently working through Priscilla Shirer’s Bible Study, Discerning the Voice of God. It’s very good!

    • blankJean Wise says

      July 23, 2019 at 7:41 pm

      i love seeing what others are reading too. I love Jan Karon’s book and haven’t read that series in so long, what a perfect summer read! Let me kow how that bible study goes

  2. blankLinda Stoll says

    July 23, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    Thanks for the peek at your shelves, Jean …

    • blankJean Wise says

      July 23, 2019 at 7:41 pm

      isn’t it fun to see what others are reading!!

  3. blankLisa notes says

    July 23, 2019 at 12:58 pm

    I have the same pet peeve about fiction; I don’t want to be able to figure it out ahead of time–surprise me. 🙂 Nonetheless, I’m reading two novels right now (only because they both became available at the same time from the library): Where the Crawdads Sing and Crossing to Safety. They both came highly recommended so hopefully they’ll live up to the hype.

    • blankJean Wise says

      July 23, 2019 at 7:42 pm

      Glad I am not alone when it comes to fiction. Funny you are reading novels too. Looking forward to your reviews as I always enjoy them on your blog,

  4. blankMartha J Orlando says

    July 23, 2019 at 11:34 am

    These books all sound wonderful,Jean! I’ll be sure to include them on my wish list. I am reading How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns. I highly recommend it!
    Blessings!

    • blankJean Wise says

      July 23, 2019 at 7:43 pm

      haven’t heard of that book. will check it out!

  5. blankJoanne Viola says

    July 23, 2019 at 10:28 am

    I am also reading Sensible Shoes and enjoying it very much! I just finished The Jesus Who Surprises and this was another thought provoking Bible Study.

    • blankJean Wise says

      July 23, 2019 at 7:44 pm

      Fun we are reading the same book! Never heard of that bible study – sounds good.

Healthy Spirituality – a sacred space to nurture your faith, grow closer to God, and belong to a community, walking together on life’s journey. This blog is written by author, speaker and retreat leader Jean Wise

blank Read More…

Subscribe to Healthy Spirituality and learn more about spiritual practices such as prayer

This book will help you as you plan and attend a spiritual retreat

blankblank

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest

Search This Blog

Categories

Copyright © 2023 Lifestyle Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress Themes · Blog Set-Up By Blogelina