Arresting April’s Attention
I found a new book that I am working slowly through and chewing up bit by bit. Ken Gire wrote The Reflective Life (Chariot Victor Publishing, ’98). It has absolutely stopped me cold in my tracks and given me so much to think about that I have been literally in the first chapter for three days (and for a word consumer like me that’s long enough to read almost half of “Gone With the Wind!”).
My story with Mr. Gire’s work is that Diallo, the kids, and I went to my favorite resale book shop in 
and said he’d go with the kids to their reading section until I was finished.
Before I began looking through the shelves and piles I prayed and told God the same thing. I began looking and went to this book. It piqued my attention, but I kept searching thinking Beth Moore is really a great teacher. Henri J. Nouwen is so contemplative and deep. Dr. Calvin Miller is so spirit filled. What Madeleine L’Engle books am I missing from collecting them all? What C.S. Lewis have I loaned out and need to replace? Richard Foster is all about Christian disciplines that will grow me. There are tons of books I could really use for improving my parenting skills or relationships skills. Michael Card is always challenging and has a book I really want about faith and art called Scribbling in the Sand because that will help me as a Christian writer. I really 
was hoping someone hadn’t grasped how cool the Anne Graham book I want to get is, and that they in their ignorance had already brought it in. I looked at fiction both classical and Christian for entertainment. I went to a section about biographies and histories. And I found a few that were cool. But for some reason Ken Gire’s book kept pinging my brain no matter how often I walked away. So I bought it nonchalantly (stupid and insensitive to the Holy Spirit to Whom I apologized later
).
I came home that night and read the intro and STOPPED
to drop to thank God for absolutely and unequivocally answering the half hearted prayer I dropped in the bowl of incense (Rev. 5:8). I was so astounded by how the book just spoke to so many areas of my life in just the intro and drew me in. So …. I say all that to say as I walk through this book, expect me to blog about it. I am so working through what is said that I can’t help being excited by it! 
This is just one section that spoke to me. I can’t post everything in the first blog, but let me say that it isn’t just about writing books or reading books. It’s about being sensitive to “the holy in the common place” as Sara Groves would say.
Books in a way are sacraments that make the communion between an author and a reader possible. The white paper and the black ink are the means through which one heart is revealed to another. But the paper and the words are merely the elements of the sacrament. What is sacred is the heart that writes the book and the heart that sits in silent communion to take and read what has been written.
The words that are read are small, wafer-like things. But sometimes, on some page, God humbles Himself to come through some of those words and touch the reader’s heart. It is not the words that are sacred but God who is sacred…and the person to whom He comes. – Ken Gire, The Reflective Life: Becoming More Spiritually Sensitive to the Everyday Moments of Life, pg. 17-18
Can you see why I am excited!
I am at a beginning. I feel the thrill of a divine adventure awaiting me here in the pages! I hope that what I discover and blog will be an exciting journey for you to participate in with me as well if you want to read along about my discoveries. Feel free to chime in. A conversation (or a friendship) is like a handshake- it only works if both parties reach toward each other. Feel free to comment and think aloud with me if you like.
Here’s info about how to find the book if you’re curious.
Mr. Gire’s website: http://www.reflectiveliving.com/
One more site where you can buy the book: http://product.half.ebay.com/The-Reflective-Life_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ515001
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Currently reading : The Reflective Life: Becoming More Spiritually Sensitive to the Everyday Moments of Life (Reflective Living Series) By Ken Gire Release date: September, 1998  |
Filed under: Christianity, art, life, relationships, wonder, writing on March 30th, 2008
I cannot wait to get the book now!!!! And I just love how sacred your moment was with your Saviour as you encountered Him in the book store!!!! He is sooooo intimate!
Camilla