The Shape of Living: Spiritual Directions for Everyday Life

Ford (Modern Theologians) asks how Christians can practice their faith in what he believes is a hostile environment. We live in a ""culture of distraction,"" he writes, where we are constantly overwhelmed by experiences of love and pain, grief and joy and a fear of the future or dread of the past. As he recounts his own spiritual journey, Ford uses examples from scripture and wisdom from his spiritual mentors to suggest ways of overcoming distraction. He suggests that once we have named and described our distraction we can integrate the lessons of that experience into our spiritual lives. He also counsels us to seek community in our quest for spirituality. Ford proposes that we ask a series of questions as we seek spiritual direction: Who are the people from the past and present who are always in our hearts? What are our deepest desires? How do we cope with so much of ourselves being hidden even from ourselves? What can we learn from those who have suffered intensely? In this eloquent and reflective book, Ford presents a Christian faith that focuses on Christ's being central to the community of our hearts. (Nov.)