Messy Spirituality
by: Michael Yaconelli
After reading this book for the 2nd time this summer I think I'm ready to write something about it. I needed to read it again to remind myself of some things. It seems that too often the church has boiled spirituality growth down to a recipe and if you follow the recipe you will get delicious spiritual growth...one problem with that theory; God us not an oven and is not limited to a recipe. So often it seems people claim that those who believe in God never have doubts or struggle; that their spiritual growth is a steady incline. Messy Spirituality reminds us that Spirituality is so much more complicated than an escalator going up. Spirituality has periods of "resting, listening, waiting, starting, returning, savoring, celebrating, dancing, learning, [and] growing" (pg 130). These times make the "graph" of our spiritual life's filled with highs, low, and a steady line that neither goes up nor down. Michael Yaconelli writes about some of the most spiritual people he knows not fitting the norm of what the church calls spiritual; their lives are messy, just like mine, some people use "colorful language", some deal with alcoholism, and some have had divorces that have made the church reject them. Messy Spirituality reminds us that we do not have to have it all together to be acceptable to God; God uses those of us with messy lives to do his work just the same. I do recommend this book to those looking to be reminded that they do not have to have look like the recipe perfect christian with their lives all together to be loved by God or spiritual.
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1 comment:
I have always like Yaconelli's books and thoughts. He makes you look at things a bit differently and get past the "church" mask. I was fortunate enough to hear him speak several times and do a Bible study with him as well as an eight hour prayer workshop. Great stuff!
Pam
Keep reading, keep learning and asking questions.
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