Her essays are autobiographical. They describe her journey as a writer and a participant in life searching for meaning.

Warm, inspirational

I actually cried twice while reading this. Some of the stories were not as relevant to me, but obviously some really hit home! I love that I could read as many as I wanted and then put the book down and come back to the next few stories.

I am a Sue Monk Kidd fan, and I love much of the content in this book, but I didn't like the way it was put together...tiny snippets of devotional writing, in chapters that had a loosely organized theme...it would be better as a devotional book with each page standing alone in my opinion...I had it from the library and tried to read it all at once...

Good to listen to in the car.

I loved this book of inspirational essays and nonfiction spiritual memoirs of Sue Kidd's life. Great for those with not much time to read. Pick it up, read an essay or two and leave it feeling great! Almost like a perfect little morning or evening devotional.

I'm a skimmer. I don't want to be, but I am. I didn't skim this book. Assorted short writings that were grouped into a dozen or so chapters. Good read.

I needed something to soothe my soul and I found it. I picked up Firstlight at a used book sale and it sat on my nightstand for 15 months. I started reading it because I needed short, well-writte bursts of insight and inspiration. I liked Sue Monk Kidd's Secret Life of Bees and it is one of the few books that I began rereading as soon as I completed it. While it might be argued that her writing is too sweet, at times, there is a grit and reality that is always there.

Firstlight is early non fiction and covers the time in her life when she changed her career from nursing to writing. I had no idea she came to writing as a full grown woman, a wife, a mom, and a nurse. She writes about jack-hammering away the layers of her that weren't her true self to come to be the writer she is. Along the way she began a contemplative, meditative practice, looked more into her Christian faith, and other beliefs, and became known for her honoring of feminine mysticism.

Needless to say some friends and family questioned what she was doing with her life.

She writes: "Somehow, as a young woman with a husband, two children, dog, a demanding career, a busy social life, and endless church activities, I stumbled headlong upon a contemplative path." We have benefited much because she did.

The golden magnifying glass that SMK gazes through in life is a blessing to behold. Her stories and reflections will stick with me for a long time.

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"When suffering is shared, the weight is divided. And when joy is shared, the delight is multiplied. We need each other."

"Shining in her eyes was the growth, strength, and beauty that comes from having loved with one's whole heart. I felt then what l'd always wanted to believe. Love is more joyful than the hurt is painful. It is always worth the risk of loving."

"In the slow, delicate layering [of the soull, there are necessary places of waiting, incubation, and integration.
Within these things lies the holiness of non-doing."

"Ultimately, we are reborn to love because in this expanding, gracious space within us, we arrive at the astonishing presence of God at the core of our life.
We blunder into the heart of God and find our own."

I liked the honesty that the author, she is authentic which so many people want to make themselves look good! Many of the illustrations she uses could easily apply to many lives including mine, that is a scary thought !! She also illustrates how to look at things from a God perspective. Great keep writing

This short collection of stories and reflections is perfect for those moments one wants (or only has) 5 minutes for a book. I found some of the essays strange. However, I enjoyed being reminded to reflect and rediscover the forgotten and valuable practice of contemplation in our faith.

I didn't finish this; I totally misinterpreted "inspirational" and this is not the book for me. Very mainstream religious.