THE SEASONS OF A RESTLESS HEART: A Spiritual Companion for Living in Transition

It is no insult to Farrington to say that her unpretentious but frequently insightful and creative guide is a self-help book, in the best sense of that term, for the soul of readers navigating significant life changes. An Episcopal publisher and author of six other books, Farrington uses the Old Testament narrative of the Exodus and the ancient Israelites' "desert years" to thread her essays on the various stages of transition, from encouraging those in transition to "make a space for God on the journey" instead of building idolatrous golden calves, to entering "Canaan," or the new home to which God has brought us. Divided into chapters with comfortably colloquial titles like "Eat, Sleep, Bend and Stretch," the book has an engaging mix of practical advice on self-care and spiritual counsel on making the most of even painful transitions. Farrington's own recent diagnosis with multiple sclerosis and other changes in her life provide the subtext for some of her meditations, reassuring readers that she knows her subject personally and well. Interlaced with suggestions for spiritual practices and prayers, Farrington's work should appeal to Christian readers seeking a context in which to build bridges between their own experiences and those of other believers in a time that can be both exhilarating and scary. (Apr. 8)