Longing for Enough in a Culture of More

Longing for Enough in a Culture of More
Author: Dr. Paul L. Escamilla
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Total Pages: 154
Release: 2010-09-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1426723210

These 25 brief, thoughtful meditations by Paul Escamilla are organized in five topics: The Good Book, The Good Life, the Good Work, The Good Society, and The Good Earth. Whether read privately or with a group, these probing essays invite rather than indict the reader - making the "life of enough" seem not only possible but a natural next step in our lives as Christians. A gifted writer, Escamilla leads the reader to anticipate both physical and spiritual relief from saturation and excess. Together the author and the reader search for the secret of escaping the lifestyle and attitudes of "a weighed-down world." A study guide includes questions for reflection or discussion. An excerpt from the Circuit Rider review: "This is a helpful little book. Clergy and laity will find in it much to consider. In a highly consumerist culture, there is a great deal to examine as persons ask questions about what constitutes having 'enough': How much is enough? How do we find rest and peace for anxious hearts? How do we discover a depth of being in a society always bent on 'doing' and 'having' more? For persons who are searching and exploring what the next step in the journey of faith is, this book will provide an instructive pathway to growth by someone who has also "been there and done that." And what they will receive is not an indicting finger but a gentle and persuasive hand."

The Grace of Enough

The Grace of Enough
Author: Haley Stewart
Publisher: Ave Maria Press
Total Pages: 192
Release: 2018-09-07
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1594718180

Winner of a 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (first place, backlist beauty). Do you ever feel caught in an endless cycle of working harder and longer to get more while enjoying life less? The Stewart family did—and they decided to make a radical change. Popular Catholic blogger and podcaster Haley Stewart explains how a year-long internship on a sustainable farm changed her family’s life for the better, allowing them to live gospel values more intentionally. When Haley Stewart married her bee-keeping sweetheart, Daniel, they dreamed of a life centered on home and family. But as the children arrived and Daniel was forced to work longer hours at a job he liked less and less, they dared to break free from the unending cycle of getting more yet feeling unfufilled. They sold their Florida home and retreated to Texas to live on a farm with a compost toilet and 650 square feet of space for a family of five. Surprisingly, they found that they had never been happier. In The Grace of Enough, Stewart shares essential elements of intentional Christian living that her family discovered during that extraordinary year on the farm and that they continue to practice today. You, too, will be inspired to: live simply offer hospitality revive food culture and the family table reconnect with the land nurture community prioritize beauty develop a sense of wonder be intentional about technology seek authentic intimacy center life around home, family, and relationships Drawing from Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, Stewart identifies elements of Catholic social teaching that will enhance your life and create a ripple effect of grace to help you overcome the effects of today’s “throwaway” culture and experience a deeper satisfaction and stronger faith.

All Good Things

All Good Things
Author: Sarah Turnbull
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 338
Release: 2014-06-03
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1592408834

In this lushly written follow-up to Almost French, Sarah Turnbull explores a new paradise: Tahiti. Having shared her story in her bestselling memoir, Almost French, Australian writer Sarah Turnbull seemed to have had more than her fair share of dreams come true. While Sarah went on to carve out an idyllic life in Paris with her husband, Frédéric, there was still one dream she was beginning to fear might be impossible—starting a family. Then out of the blue an opportunity to embark on another adventure offered a new beginning—and new hope. Leaving behind life in the world’s most romantic and beautiful city was never going to be easy. But it helps when your destination is another paradise on earth: Tahiti.

A Summer Like No Other

A Summer Like No Other
Author: Elodie Nowodazkij
Publisher: Elodie Nowodazkij
Total Pages: 139
Release: 2015-07-27
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 1515005658

Dive into a whirlwind of romance, dance, and undeniable attraction with the sizzling young adult romance, "A Summer Like No Other", where a very off-limits brother's best friend may be breaking the bro code. Currently, we are offering this spellbinding tale of forbidden love for FREE! She’s his best friend’s little sister. He’s the biggest player of them all. They shouldn’t be together. But this summer’s just too tempting. Emilia Moretti, a sixteen-year-old ballet dancer, is all set for a summer of perfect pirouettes and the quest to find her birth parents. But an unexpected twist threatens to shatter her plans—Nick Grawsky. He's her brother's best friend, the consummate player, and the one guy Emilia should forget. But this summer, forgetting just got a whole lot harder. Nick Grawsky, a charismatic professional dancer, is living a dual life. Striving to follow his dancing dreams while combating his father's expectations of a legal career, he's got enough on his plate. And then there's Emilia—the girl he can't have, the girl he can't stop thinking about. Bound by the unspoken bro code with his best friend Roberto, Nick knows Emilia is off-limits. But what happens when the rhythm of the heart drowns out the voice of reason? In this intoxicating dance of desire and restraint, "A Summer Like No Other" captures the essence of a quintessential brother's best friend romance, set against the vibrant backdrop of a New York summer. With the heart-pounding allure of forbidden love and the captivating world of ballet, this story will pull you in and refuse to let go. Critics rave about it as a "beautiful teen romance" that keeps you on your edge of your seat. It's more than just a love story—it's a roller coaster ride of emotions, a symphony of moving parts, and a dance that's as complicated as it is beautiful. Will Emilia and Nick manage to navigate the tricky choreography of their tangled emotions? Or will the bro code and their own fears lead to a finale they're not ready for? Experience the passion, the heartbreak, and the thrill of first love with "A Summer Like No Other". Don't miss this chance to own a piece of this scintillating brother's best friend romance for FREE. Indulge in a summer love story that promises to be like no other!

The Book of Longings

The Book of Longings
Author: Sue Monk Kidd
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 434
Release: 2020-04-21
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0698408195

“An extraordinary novel . . . a triumph of insight and storytelling.” —Associated Press “A true masterpiece.” —Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed An extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything. Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary. Ana's pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome's occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history. Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, The Book of Longings is an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time, place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the height of her powers.

The Longing for Less

The Longing for Less
Author: Kyle Chayka
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2020-01-21
Genre: Art
ISBN: 1635572118

The New Yorker staff writer and Filterworld author Kyle Chayka examines the deep roots-and untapped possibilities-of our newfound, all-consuming drive to reduce. “Less is more”: Everywhere we hear the mantra. Marie Kondo and other decluttering gurus promise that shedding our stuff will solve our problems. We commit to cleanse diets and strive for inbox zero. Amid the frantic pace and distraction of everyday life, we covet silence-and airy, Instagrammable spaces in which to enjoy it. The popular term for this brand of upscale austerity, “minimalism,” has mostly come to stand for things to buy and consume. But minimalism has richer, deeper, and altogether more valuable gifts to offer. In The Longing for Less, one of our sharpest cultural critics delves beneath the glossy surface of minimalist trends, seeking better ways to claim the time and space we crave. Kyle Chayka's search leads him to the philosophical and spiritual origins of minimalism, and to the stories of artists such as Agnes Martin and Donald Judd; composers such as John Cage and Julius Eastman; architects and designers; visionaries and misfits. As Chayka looks anew at their extraordinary lives and explores the places where they worked-from Manhattan lofts to the Texas high desert and the back alleys of Kyoto-he reminds us that what we most require is presence, not absence. The result is an elegant synthesis of our minimalist desires and our profound emotional needs. With a new afterword by the author.

Longing for Paris

Longing for Paris
Author: Sarah Mae
Publisher: NavPress
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2015-08-04
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1496400577

For anyone who has ever daydreamed of another life . . . Most days, you wouldn’t trade what you have for the world. You love your husband and your kids, and you are grateful to God for your life. But there are days when you feel as though life is rolling over you in waves and you are just going through the motions. You find yourself aching for something more, something that is calling to depths of who you are, maybe for something you can’t even name. For Sarah Mae, it was Paris, a place that is known for breathtaking beauty, inspiring art, and exquisite food. But as she searched her heart, she found there was more to her longings than she anticipated. Join Sarah Mae in Longing for Paris, a soul-searching, light-filled journey for the woman who knows she can’t uproot her life to discover herself and her longings, but who desperately wants to uncover them so she can get unstuck and choose a life that is filled with beauty, adventure, and deep joy . . . right where she is.

More than Enough

More than Enough
Author: Lee Hull Moses
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2016-10-10
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780664261283

Ever look around your life and feel overwhelmed with gratitude for everything you have? Sure, nothing is perfect, but if you have a safe place to live, food on the table, and clothes to wear, the reality is that life is pretty good. That's not true for many people in the world, and you may wonder, "How do we live in a way that honors God and shows gratitude for the good life we are living in the midst of a world full of pain and brokenness?" All our daily choices have an impact on the earth and the people around us: choices about where we shop, what we eat, what we give away.... But can we really do anything to help? Can we find joy in our own lives when there is so much pain in the world? Sorting out the answers gets overwhelming and complicated very quickly. With a blend of practical reflection and insight on topics from guilt to delight, More than Enough goes beyond a call to gratitude and generosity and invites the reader to a new way of life, one that is grounded in the hope and grace of God.

Washed and Waiting

Washed and Waiting
Author: Wesley Hill
Publisher: Zondervan
Total Pages: 151
Release: 2010-09-21
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0310591813

This is a book written primarily for gay Christians and those who love them. Part memoir, part pastoral-theological reflection, this book wrestles with three main areas of struggle that many gay Christians face: (1) What is God’s will for sexuality? (2) If the historic Christian tradition is right and same-sex behavior is ruled out, how should gay Christians deal with their resulting loneliness? (3) How can gay Christians come to an experience of grace that rescues them from crippling feelings of shame and guilt? Author Wesley Hill is not advocating that it is possible for every gay Christian to become straight, nor is he saying that God affirms homosexuality. Instead, Hill comes alongside gay Christians and says, “You are not alone. Here is my experience; it’s like yours. And God is with us. We can share in God’s grace.” While some authors profess a deep faith in Christ and claim a powerful experience of the Holy Spirit precisely in and through their homosexual practice, Hill’s own story, by contrast, is a story of feeling spiritually hindered, rather than helped, by his homosexuality. His story testifies that homosexuality was not God’s original creative intention for humanity—that it is, on the contrary, a tragic sign of human nature and relationships being fractured by sin—and therefore that homosexual practice goes against God’s express will for all human beings, especially those who trust in Christ. This book is written mainly for those homosexual Christians who are trying to walk the narrow path of celibacy and are convinced that their discipleship to Jesus necessarily commits them to the demanding, costly obedience of choosing not to nurture their homosexual desires. With reflections from the lives of Henri Nouwen and Gerard Manley Hopkins, Wesley Hill encourages and challenges Christians with homosexual desires to live faithful to God’s plan for human sexuality.

Latitudes of Longing

Latitudes of Longing
Author: Shubhangi Swarup
Publisher: One World/Ballantine
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2020
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0593132556

"A spellbinding work of literature, Latitudes of Longing follows the interconnected lives of characters searching for true intimacy. The novel sweeps across India, from an island, to a valley, a city, and a snow desert to tell a love story of epic proportions. We follow a scientist who studies trees and a clairvoyant who speaks to them; a geologist working to end futile wars over a glacier; octogenarian lovers; a mother struggling to free her revolutionary son; a yeti who seeks human companionship; a turtle who transforms first into a boat and then a woman; and the ghost of an evaporated ocean as restless as the continents. Binding them all together is a vision of life as vast as the universe itself. A young writer awarded one of the most prestigious prizes in India for this novel, Shubhangi Swarup is a storyteller of extraordinary talent and insight. Richly imaginative and wryly perceptive, Latitudes of Longing offers a soaring view of humanity: our beauty and ugliness, our capacity to harm and love each other, and our mysterious and sacred relationship with nature"--