The title made me think I’d love this book, but as much as I tried it just didn’t resonate with me. Goodreads rating: 2 stars (it was ok)

I didn't know Sue Monk Kidd wrote spiritual books until I saw this older book on Bookbub. Because I like her fiction I thought I'd give it a try. It was interesting not only for the spiritual content, but also to learn a little about the life of an author I admire. It comes from a time in her younger life when Sue was a young mother trying to do too many things for everyone and driving herself crazy with it. She grew up thinking she would get points in heaven for all her good deeds, but she had no real depth to her faith and her relationship with God. This book describes her journey back to a healthier spiritual journey (because we are never done in this life) and a happier life. I enjoyed seeing that it took several years for her to change and she was open about where she was failing. The book seemed most appropriate to white, middle-class Americans and much of it is covered by others or "common sense" but she had several quotes and passages I did really like and that stayed with me for contemplation. Here's a few:

It is a fearful awareness that you and I are responsible for the extent we will be present to God. We choose. God has made it that way. His presence is magnanimous, yet He leaves it to us to notice him or not, to enter His presence and commune with Him on whatever level of intimacy we choose. His desire for communion with human creatures is surpassed only by the enormous freedom He gives us to enter his intimacy with Him.

"When you pray always, you don't pray exclusively. You pray simultaneously." he said, gazing at me with dark smiling eyes. "It is to pray when I catalog these books and eat lunch and make change. It is to keep up prayer beneath the surface lifting my hear to God during all my daily activities."

I was born and raised Roman Catholic and I am a past grand knight of the knights of Columbus. I turned new age/new thought after exploring different avenues. This book is one of many self help books that I have read and it is very interesting because I used to call god the hater creator after a painful period in my life. I loved the writing style and her honesty in telling her story. I am now forever God, Mother Earth and the universe but because of this book I know god is my inner spirit guide forever...

The author gives spiritual depth to the struggle to become a human being rather than a human doing. Very relatable, although too much (rather repetitive) memoir for my taste.

First, I’m a big fan of Sue Monk Kidd. “The Secret Life of Bees” continues to be one of my favorite books. I feel differently about her memoir. While I definitely relate to her frenzied and stress-filled time of life, her descriptions of how she rediscovered herself in her search for a relationship with God left me flat. Metaphor after metaphor and quotes from other spiritual leaders filled her pages in between her personal story. I wondered if I should have picked up a book by Brother Lawrence, Thomas Merton, or Evelyn Underhill instead. This book reminded me of “Eat, Love, Pray” - another book I felt was too self-absorbing from a privileged perspective in getting in touch with one’s inner self.

Helpful

A good insight into the journey of walking closer to God, and realising how close He actually is if we tune into His presence.

This book was a joy to read and explore because I learned so much from it. I really appreciate now how God has blessed and been with me through all of these harrowing experiences in my transplant journey. I also appreciate learning how much farther I can deepen our relationship. God and I are in this together.

A must for spiritual awakening.

So much in this book. I will come back to and listen as I walk. Do these things and you will start to see everything as God intends. Beautiful.

Sue works herself into chest pain, requiring tranquilizers, because she thinks it's what a good pastor's wife does. When offered chances to retreat to two catholic oratories, she exits her hectic life only to feel restless, like she should at least be reading her Bible - or doing something!
A couple days pass and she relaxes, just spending an hour starting at a pond on one of the properties. The problem is, when she comes home, she's irritable. She can only seem to be at peace when she can commune with God in quiet. But God doesn't give up on her. She starts seeing Him in other people. She begins praying for those she meets and feels closer to both God and mankind. There are never too many people to pray for. If she feels their burdens in her Spirit, she releases them to God. Even during her tumor-cancer scare (which was really an appendix burst), God was in the midst of it all.

Pages: 248; Date of Publication: 1987; Part of my book collection.

For the most part, enjoying reading about Sue Monk Kidds's religious experiences.

The one thing I didn't enjoy was the author insinuating me, the reader, into her personal expericence by saying "we" when it was about her thoughts, beliefs and experiences, thereby leaving it up to myself to identify the portions of the book that resonates with me.

Personally, the book would have been a better read, if the uthor would have stuck to first-person narrative.

I really resonated with the author's story. I enjoyed reading this book.

This is a great book! The author relates her own spiritual journey while weaving in a lot of ideas written by other authors. It is well footnoted and encouraged me a lot in this season of my life. I know that God does not need us to work for Him, but to know Him and reflect Him to those around us. The book is very motivating and inspiring! It would speak best to a mother with children like myself, but its message is applicable to all kinds of different people in today's busy society. It does not cause the reader to feel burdened with a need to live differently, but to possibly analyze one's activity in order to evaluate what is really necessary and to live "from a strong, peaceful center" with God.