June 28, 2010

Suggestions for Summer Reading

I am taking a bit of a break from these little missives as I go on vacation. My collection of books for vacation reading awaits – among them I Shall Not Hate and  Nomad.

Here’s a list of the books that have nourished me this year:

          God Is – David Adams Richards. Doubleday Canada.  Canadian novelist gets fed up with the portrayal of people of faith as nuts or dangerous in literature. This is his personal response to his life and experience- concludes that “God Is”

Humility of God - Ilia Delio  - St. Anthony Messenger Press. This book gives a refreshing turn to our view of God, the Incarnation and our call as followers of Jesus. If the introduction bogs you down – skip to first chapter.

Poverty of Spirit – Johannes Baptist Metz.  Paulist Press. I have returned several times to this reflection on Jesus’ full embrace of the poverty of humanity. Jesus’ gritty experience beckons us to follow and embrace our own poverty in his grace.

Harvesting Fog - Luci Shaw. Pinyon Publishing. This most recent collection of poems is not just great reading. Many of the poems will take you into quiet reflection and prayer.

The Skin Boat: Acts of faith and other navigations - John Terpstra. Gaspereau Press. Terpstra is a Canadian poet and cabinet maker. This personal journal is a gentle story of finding faith and community in the flawed faith family. This is a wonderful use of Celtic metaphors for our spiritual voyage.

A Prayer for Vacation

Blessing of discovery be yours and blessing of rest.

Blessing of scenery be yours and blessing of sleep.

Blessing of meeting be yours and blessing of solitude.

Blessing of fun be yours and blessing of thought.

Blessing of change be yours and blessing of homecoming.

(From Celtic Prayers For Life Today.  Ray Simpson)

© June 28, 2010 Touchstone Ministries Inc.

 
P.S. Please visit www.touchstone.ca for a list of these books and Summer Prayers 2010.