Practicing the Way
This book is all about apprenticeship and formation in the Way of Jesus. The author makes a claim that I agree with: all of us are being formed and if we aren’t intentional about what those influences are, we may be shaped in ways we never desired. We are bombarded by the media, circumstances outside of our control, the news, even rifts in friendships, etc. It’s our job to make sure that we give ourselves a framework for life that aligns with our values. The author provides an explanation of an ancient framework called the Rule of Life, a sort of trellis upon which our entire lives can grow. I think some of these concepts can apply to anyone, not only Christians, asking the questions, “how do I want to interact with my family and friends, my community, my work, myself?” But the main audience for this book is Christians who perhaps feel that they see little growth or transformation in their lives even though they’re “doing all the right things.”
I appreciated this book for several reasons. The writing is humorous and easy to follow. The exercises and questions are practical and have immediate application. It felt up to date with our current culture and time. However, this is not my favorite book on spiritual formation. I’m not even sure it would make my top 3-5 on the subject. It didn’t feel like anything that I hadn’t read before in authors like Peter Scazzero, Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, and James Bryan Smith. That being said, I’d still highly recommend it for anyone who wants a starting point for spiritual disciplines and practices. It’s an excellent primer.
