My kids are on spring break this week, and they have way more energy than I do. So far we’ve spent two afternoons at the new park near our house, conquered some errands, and they’re lobbying for more outings. Pray for me!
Looking Back
I recently wrapped up my winter reading list and got started on my spring list. Here’s what was on my winter list:
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson
The God of the Garden by Andrew Peterson
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman
Chasing Contentment by Erik Raymond
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (novel)
I didn’t start The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. It’s a longer, academic read, so I’ll probably save it for later this year. I didn’t get back into Chasing Contentment again, so I’m going to set it aside for now.
As we hunkered down in January, I was looking for some good fiction, so I added a few additional novels to my list.
Cilka’s Journey
The Sweetness of Water
Oh William!
From my main list, I really enjoyed A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. I purchased this book at the end of 2020 but didn’t start reading it until the end of 2021. It was definitely a worthwhile read.
Eugene Peterson wrote this book decades ago, but it’s still relevant today–perhaps even more so. In it, he draws connections between the psalms of ascent and our modern lives.
I’ve shared bits and pieces of insights I gleaned from this book in my weekly posts, but the point I keep returning to is that the Christian life is a lifelong journey. We don’t arrive at our destination after a short sprint, rather we walk with the Lord day by day. There is no microwave for our faith.
Andrew Peterson’s book God of the Garden was a beautiful memoir tracing his faith journey and the ups and downs he has experienced along the way. He draws heavily from the imagery of trees as he tells his story. I’ve enjoyed Andrew Peterson’s music and was glad to learn more about the background of some of the songs he has written over the years.
Cloud Cuckoo Land was masterful. It was long, but it was one of those novels you could get lost in and lose track of time.
Looking Forward
My spring reading list is still developing. Right now I’ve got:
The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard
The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink (this isn't from a Christian perspective but is a topic of interest to me)
Glittering Vices by Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung
When Narcissism Comes to Church by Chuck DeGroat
I’ll be adding to this list over the next few weeks, so if you have any suggestions, especially fiction, hit reply and let me know.
I’ll keep these suggestions on file. Thanks!