As a contemplative, and one who finds a great deal of value in reading the spiritual classics (and well-written novels), it’s rare that I find myself recommending a more contemporary author in the area of spiritual non-fiction. Yes, there are good memoirs out there. Yes, there are good, if somewhat popcorn-like, books on the spiritual life. In some ways, I find “spiritual life” books to be the equivalent of ‘chick lit’ for the soul. Enjoyable, but not about to create much thought, let alone much change. That doesn’t come out of a place of cynicism (Kyrie eleison), but rather a realization that as a culture we’re not all that interested that often in chewing our food.
Further, I’m really not one to recommend a book that I haven’t all-the-way read yet. I take my recommendations seriously. No one pays me for them, and I want to make sure that I’m being responsible with how I suggest my readers, friends and directees spend their very precious time.
Which all leads up to a Friday Favorite that is somewhat of a surprise and a trend-bucking joy to me. I’m currently near the end of a hurry-up-and-buy-it-now book called Somewhere More Holy: Stories from a Bewildered Father, Stumbling Husband, Reluctant Handyman and Prodigal Son. It is one of the best spiritual memoirs/God-hunting/yearning for the sacred books I’ve read in a long time. I’ve gotten what I ever so cheesily call “Wild Goose bumps” on my arms by an arresting, beautiful, convicting or sacred thought in every single chapter of Tony Woodlief’s touching story.
I’m enjoying it so much, I’ve been using excerpts as meditations in spiritual direction sessions. I’ve been reading parts of it to friends over dinner. I’ve been whispering chapters to my husband while we lay in bed reading.
Somewhere More Holy takes a look at the concept of home and family, and re-sacrelizes them. The author writes for the Wall Street Journal and WORLD, among others. Through his own story, he ushers us back into a world where home meant something sacred, and what we do in the home matters.
You can pick up a copy of Tony’s book here. You can also read more about Somewhere More Holy at the website dedicated to the book. And if you’re interested in more of his writing, you can check out Tony Woodlief’s website here.