“What is saving my life now is the
conviction that there is no spiritual treasure to be found apart from the
bodily experiences of human life on earth. My life depends on engaging the most
ordinary physical activities with the most exquisite attention I can give
them…what is saving my life right now is becoming more fully human, trusting
that there is no way to God apart from real life in the real world” (Taylor,
xvii).
Barbara Brown Taylor skillfully entwines the mundane
activities of everyday life and creates a moment of sacred around them. She
utilizes practices that can be found in the daily life of any human being, such
as walking on the face the earth, wearing skin, encountering others, getting
lost, saying no, and being present, as spiritual disciplines that one can learn
and cultivate. Her poetic use of traditions, world religions, and everyday life
draw the reader into a world where anything can bring one closer to God. She
also utilizes practical applications that can be done with communities of
people, making this book an interesting tool in relation to interactive sermons
and bible studies. It is a call to celebrate life and the mysteriousness of the
divine that captivates the soul. In many ways, it sparked glimpses into my own
experiences and drew them deeper into my sense of identity. My word of warning:
don’t read if you are not able to underline or write in the margins, my copy is
now filled with life, pen markings, and ideas for ministry.
**Side note: We were to write book reviews for my Senior Preaching Course this semester, and I thought I'd share.**
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