Good morning…
You might have guessed one strong characteristic of my friend newly diagnosed with cancer (see 2.18.16 post, “Living heaven on earth”). She is a voracious reader. I, on the other hand, have an ADD, dyslexic brain, so I have a very short list of books I have read in my lifetime. My slow savoring of each beloved book and my chapter by chapter teaching style are two of the gifts born out of my dyslexia. I facilitate a deep dive discussion on one chapter per week with the classes that meet in my living room each day. Slow. Steady. Savoring. That is how I read every book I adore.
As I asked my friend what I might do to walk beside her on her cancer journey, she said, “With my work load, I have not be able to come to your Bible studies as often as I would have liked, so I would love a list of the books you have taught over the past several years.” We met for lunch on Saturday and, after an important two hour heart-to-heart talk, I handed her a floral gift bag tied with a skin colored bow. Inside I placed four of my favorite books, a note of encouragement, and a copy of the book list below.
Book Recommendations from an ADD, Dyslexic Writer (So they must be worth your while.)
Beloved books I am giving you:
Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life – Henri Nouwen
The Hidden Life: Revelations from a Holy Journey – Kitty Crenshaw and Catherine Snapp
Same Kind of Different As Me – Ron Hall and Denver Moore
The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering our Hidden Life In God – Dallas Willard (please help me understand these incredible concepts)
Other favorites I have taught over the years:
When the Heart Waits – Sue Monk Kidd
Gift from the Sea – Anne Morrow Lindbergh
God is No Fool – Lois A. Cheney
The Shack – William Young
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life – Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Living Your Strengths – Albert Winseman, Donald Clifton, and Curt Liesveld
Now That They’re Grown: Successfully Parenting Your Young Adult Children – Ron Greer
When God Comes Near – Marcia Gaddis
The Will of God – Leslie Weatherhead
Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough – Kay Warren
Gift of the Red Bird – Paula D’Arcy
The Gifts of Imperfection – Brene Brown
Getting into my soul with these slow, steady reads, the voice of God has reshaped me from the inside out. It is as if Jesus, himself, has been drawing me near, semester by semester, teaching me lessons I most need to learn. There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books, John 21:25 (MSG),
Sue
