Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Lift Your Sails: The Challenge of Being a Christian by Vincent Dwyer ISBN: 0-8264-1139-8 Publisher: Continuum International Publishing Group Pub. Date: 01 February, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.67 (3 reviews)
Rating: 1
Summary: Somewhat non-congruent
Comment: Dwyer delivers what I believe to be some cogent and somewhat fruitful, Spiritual advise in the Catholic Spiritual sense...
Rating: 5
Summary: A Contemporary Spiritual Classic
Comment: A number of years ago I was visiting St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, MA and I purchased a book. The man at the counter asked if I wanted an autographed copy, and to be polite, I said yes. The man then took a pen and autographed my book with the inscription "To Tim, May the Spirit fill your sails and guide you on your journey-With best wishes-Fr. Vincent, O.C.S.O. I was surprised to actually be talking with a real live author, and found it rather surprising he was working at the gift store counter, but he told me he loved the job and saw it as a service to his religious community. He seemed to be an authentic follower of Christ, and I could hardly wait to read his book.
Perhaps because I actually met the author I was more interested in his book, but as I read the pages I discovered the writings of a man who loved God, loved being a priest, and understood modern life and the human condition. While he touches on all the familiar tenets of Christianity: following Christ, love and forgiveness, the importance of prayer, and the dignity of the human person, he shares personal anecdotes from his life, his ministry as a priest, and his meeting such a wide variety of people. We hear about moments when he was sure of his vocation, and moments of challenge. We hear about when he felt the love of God and others, and when this was somewhat difficult. In the end, we find a person who was speaking to his contemporary culture, but does so in a way that even years down the road, the work will be relevant.
It was ten years ago when I encountered Fr. Dwyer in the abbey bookstore, and I have probably read the book two or three times. I have used the book in classes and Bible studies over the years and often look for quotes from the book when I give talks or homilies. I always find the words fresh and alive. On a personal level, Fr. Dwyer's words have always seemed like his prayer for me, and I believe his words as well as his prayer have helped me "lift my sails."
Rating: 5
Summary: A Personal Journey
Comment: Lift Your Sails By Vincent Dwyer
The Continuum Publishing Co. 1999
Lift Your Sails, The Challenge of Being a Christian by Vincent
Dwyer, O.C.S.O. is a short book that is entertaining yet also
can used as a spiritual guide. It deals with our spiritual
journey to the Father. It is a personal suggested guide based
on love and forgiveness.
"Your unique response to God's revealing himself on your journey is what it's all about.Your journey...involves Your whole being, spiritually, emotionally, physically,And intellectually. It is a lifelong process... p. 12
The title of the book, Lift Your Sails, the Challenge of Being a
Christian, comes both from Father Dwyer's love of sailing and
the teaching of an early Church Father who said that "the task
we face is to lift our sails and set out on the journey to the
Father." Lift Your Sails is a reflection of Father Dwyer's own
journey. It shares a personal method of meeting God and
integrating that encounter into your life.
You can read Lift Your Sails quickly as an insightful
approach to prayer. It is entertaining, also. But it can be
used as "lectio divina", too: reading and reflecting your way
through the book. When something in the text seems meaningful,
you can let the Holy Spirit guide your reflection to deepen into
prayer. Lift Your Sails is a wonderful spiritual guide.
The book begins with Jesus' invitation to "Come, follow
me." "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." (John 14:6)
Father Dwyer explains that God invites each one of us on an
adventure. An adventure to a pilgrimage that will lead to God.
"The winds of God's grace are always blowing; we need only make
the effort to lift our sails." P. 36.
Two things are necessary for your journey towards God:
humility and love. By humility, Dwyer means believing that God
loves you as you are, and you are exactly what God intended you
to be. Never consider yourself worthless. You are the image of
God. Love is communicated and communication means staying in
tune. Not everyone says what he or she means. Pay attention to
what people do, not necessarily what they say. Father Dwyer
gives as an example his father who never said in words that he
loved him. Yet his father, who lost everything in the
depression, worked hard for his family to provide everything-
food, clothes, a place that was comfortable.
Of course, communication also includes staying in tune
with all God does for us too. Observe the world around you and
see how God takes care of us because He loves us.
Once we realize how much God loves us, some people feel
ashamed that they wasted so much of their life loving the wrong
things. Father Dwyer explains,
...However, the truth of the matter is that as we
proceed on our journey
We are accountable only for the light we have. There's no point in dwelling on the mistakes we've made; our only task is to nurture our potential for growth. Pp. 57-8
True, love and friendship involve a deep commitment. This is
difficult for a lot of people. Fear of rejection or being hurt,
may be a reason for a fear of commitment. But Dwyer argues that
love is necessary, and well worth taking chances. Keep trying.
God loves us and wants us to love.
Through the centuries, the Church has taught us to
follow Christ message. To everyone, in each generation,
however, that task is different. Whatever our circumstances,
whoever we are, we must always be open to the Holy Spirit. This
shapes our journey. No one sails through life always on calm
seas. We have to learn to trust the Holy Spirit. Dwyer calls
this "dialogue." A dialogue with the God who lives in each of
us and who will always answer when we call.
To enter dialogue one needs to be a friend and be open
to friendship. This involves forgiving and being forgiven. We
have been created to relate. We have been created to be loved
by the Father and to love and adore Him. As we develop our
prayer lives we discover that it's all about relationship-our
friendship with God.
Dwyer relates the stories of his parents' spirituality.
For his father, faith meant going to Mass and prayers. He went
to daily mass and said his rosary and novenas that were popular
in his day. His mother on the other hand, felt that just being
with God was prayer. She spent a lot of time walking the
beach. Both these approaches to prayer brought each one close
to God. At the end of their lives, they were prepared to meet
God.
Prayer has been described in various ways but it always
involves a relationship with God and the individual and God and
the community. Through the book, Lift Your Sails, Father
Dwyer explains that God is always there, waiting for us. "The
winds of God's grace are always blowing; we need only make the
effort to lift our sails." Dwyer ends his book by praying for
the reader and the reader's journey toward God.
Well, done, Father Dwyer, even a "land lubber" like
myself can relate. I enjoyed the Trappist spirituality and
Father Dwyer even makes it palpable. He even suggests that our
centering prayer be three minutes, twice a day. Three minutes!
Now, I can't use the excuse, "I don't have time." Father
Dwyer's own journey makes it easy to relate to him. His growing
up in Scituate, is familiar to anyone who has grown up going to
the beach in New England. His prayer instructions, suggested
readings, charts on relationships and prayer, make his
spirituality understandable, interesting and real. I recommend
this book to all Christians who yearn for a closer relationship
with God. Begin your journey with Lift Your Sails. You will
find the book helpful and enjoyable.
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
