At a time when many prayer books feel overhyped or prepackaged, this companion anthology to Ordinary Graces
quietly invites rather than instructs, is relevant without being trendy and is timeless in its thoughtful content. Kisly, a former publisher at Pilgrim Press and Tricycle
and Parabola
magazines, draws from a broad spectrum of contemporary and classic Christian writing, distilling the wisdom of many centuries into an accessible volume. As editor, she adroitly avoids the temptation to overexplain or draw conclusions; rather, she offers a succinct, thoughtful introduction to each chapter that draws the reader irresistibly into the text. Kisly frames the readings in 12 "cycles" that walk through the great linchpins of communion with God, including repentance, the role of the Holy Spirit, obedience, renunciation and the Lord's Prayer. Interlaced throughout are themes of love, community and the value of solitude. Although there is tremendous diversity, the careful choices and arrangement of her selections cause the book to feel cohesive and seamless. Readers will find passages from their favorite mystics, novelists, poets and priests, including Ole Hallesby, Kallistos Ware, Evelyn Underhill, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Francois Fe'nelon, Phyllis Tickle, Henri Nouwen, Meister Eckhart, Flannery O'Connor, Thomas Merton and Fyodor Dostoyevski, as well as lesser-known authors. A thorough source list serves as a springboard for deeper exploration. This gorgeous collection has the potential to inspire, shape and deepen a Christian's life of prayer and will doubtless become an indispensable part of any spiritual pilgrim's core library. (May)
