Hi precious dears,
As we enter Holy Week, I want to recommend that you set aside one book that you dearly treasure from your formational years and re-read (or read it) and take it to heart. I know you probably won’t have time to do this during Holy Week itself, but you can look forward to doing so after Jesus has given his great commission or God has liberated the Jews free from slavery and you’re taking that deep breath and maybe things are a little bit quieter around the joint.
Remember who you were when God poked you up the nose or in the rib or in the eye and said, “You.” Remember that fresh, idealistic aspirant to the ministry. Remember the moment of your high resolve.
Borrow a page from the 12-Step Programs and do a “fearless and searching moral inventory” of how you’re doing in living into your ordination vows. Serving the contemporary religious community is an exercise in taffy-pulling, with clergy being the taffy.
I recommend Eugene Peterson, of course. Anything of his, as he speaks simply and writes with love for the work of ministry. I’d love to hear your other suggestions in the comments. How shall we rise from the tomb of dull or people-pleasing or cautious, political ministries? How shall we be Moses, attentive to the Holy while “stiff-necked people” are grumbling in the wilderness and building golden calves?
God be with you, the spirit of your most passionate calling revisit and bother and trouble and demand of you. Because YES. You were made for just this.
Eugene Peterson (especially Under the Unpredictable Plant) is a must read, must revisit work for me. I also like This Odd and Wondrous Calling by Lillian Daniels and Martin Cooperwait (sp?).
Brother to a Dragonfly by Will Campbell has challenged and comforted me in my calling for lo these many years. Midway through “this life’s journey” I read Kathleen Norris’ Cloister Walk and it is still a book I love. Though she is not “professional clergy” her reflections on preaching resonated deeply with me.
My two: Sara Miles Eat this Bread, and Here if you need me by Kate Brastrup.. Not really “vocational” in the traditional sense, but just wonderful, and relate to and feed my sense of call. [Yes, I have recommended “Take This Bread” by Sara Miles to my Facebook readers as MUST READ for Holy Week! I think Sara’s story is nothing if not vocational! – PB]
As I was applying to seminary (the first time) I read “Let Your Life Speak” by Parker Palmer. It is well underlined by now, and I always go back to it. I also love “Here If You Need Me” recommended by Nancy. “Eat This Bread” will be started later today. I’m really pleased to get all these great book recommendations.
[Just a little correction for others who are interested: it’s actually “TAKE This Bread.” – PB]
Okay, I had to laugh because the very book you mentioned “Under the Unpredictable Plant” by Peterson has been on my bookshelf for 9 years and has not been read. The reason being that I received it when I was ordained (9 years ago) along with 30 other books. Yes – I received 30 books as gifts. It was crazy and overwhelming and some have not been touched in that time due to “busyness”. A poor excuse I know. Thanks for the reminder – perhaps I’ll pick it up this week.
Another book that I love, that came out since I ended seminary but was truly wonderful to read was “An Altar in the World” by Barbara Brown Taylor. Love that book. Think it might be time for a re-read.
But when you all keeping listing my favorites, how am I to pick just one? Kate Braestrup’s “Beginner’s Grace: Bringing Prayer to Life” is also now one of my favorites.
Robert Hovda’s Strong, Loving and Wise
Y’all realize you are writing my reading list here? Duly noted and logged.
Funny you should go to Eugene Peterson and re-reading. I just finished Working the Angles, which I had not read since Seminary. It is so fun to read things you read early on, especially if you too notes in your book back then. 🙂
Anyone else find encouragement in Jeremiah 1:4-9? 🙂
The Art of Pastoring: Contemplative Reflections by William C Martin. I regularly make this my Ordination gift to colleagues.