Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human

In his latest book Comer takes a holistic approach to work, life, and leisure. Arguing that each part of daily life should support a strong spiritual life, Comer delves into his own biography for examples: “I asked the elders of my church if I could quit. They were gracious enough to say yes (maybe they were thinking, Finally.) Now I lead just one church, not three. And I share the leadership with an amazing team of people.” He advocates for an approach to work that “builds for the Kingdom of God” and views rest as not just refueling for more work but for sake of worship, enjoyment, and becoming more like God, who rested after creating the heavens and the earth. With candor and an informal tone, Comer injects humor throughout despite the grandiose message. Following the strongly Christian morals at play, Comer wraps up his intricate argument with quotes from the Bible, as well as such writers as N.T. Wright, Miroslav Volf, and Dallas Willard, in support of his view that our redemptive work, alongside purposeful rest, prepares us to reign as God’s royal servants in the new creation that will be resurrected after evil is destroyed. (Oct.)