This Life is Joy: Discovering the Spiritual Laws to Live More Powerfully, Lovingly, and Happily

Teel, spiritual director of Colorado’s Mile Hi Church, offers an inspirational sampling of metaphysical thought, stories, and advice in his first book. A natural storyteller, Teel’s personal tales, along with those he’s collected from others, ground this enthusiastic, if often abstract, survey of the New Thought metaphysical school that originated with Science of Mind author Ernest Holmes in the 1920s. Teel doesn’t draw from just one well; he references a wide array of wisdom traditions and spiritual thinkers, including Bible passages, Deepak Chopra, and Shel Silverstein. Although the chapters are organized logically—moving from “Essence” (spiritual teachings) to “Experience” (stories) and “Expression” (practices and principles to apply to daily life), the book often feels more like a survey of religious thought than the self-help manual it aspires to be. Teel shares valuable lessons from all corners—one set of suggestions includes tidbits from celebrated opera tenor Caruso, Hindu guru Ramana Maharshi and Sufi mystic Rumi, for instance—and the effect is a bit dizzying. Nonetheless, Teel’s message remains constant throughout: all experiences can be transformed into opportunities for greater peace and joy. (Oct.)