Toward Holy Ground
By (author) Margaret Guenther
Publication date:
25 March 1995Length of book:
160 pagesPublisher
Cowley PublicationsISBN-13: 9781561011148
The second half of life—which we can enter at any age—is that time when we begin the process essential to a mature faith: discovering who we are, exploring our relationship with God, and beginning to let go. This part of life has a depth and spirituality all its own—a need for structure and rule, a tolerance of ambiguity, an exploration of limitation and mortality, and the deep work of discipline and detachment.
Margaret Guenther brings her insights as a spiritual director to the gifts and opportunities of those of us who are on this journey to “holy ground.” In each chapter, Toward Holy Ground explores the practical aspects of spirituality in midlife: intercessory prayer, a sense of community, a rule of life, lightheartedness, detachment, and stripping down, preparing for “a good death.” A final chapter discusses practical aspects of ministry to the frail aged.
Margaret Guenther brings her insights as a spiritual director to the gifts and opportunities of those of us who are on this journey to “holy ground.” In each chapter, Toward Holy Ground explores the practical aspects of spirituality in midlife: intercessory prayer, a sense of community, a rule of life, lightheartedness, detachment, and stripping down, preparing for “a good death.” A final chapter discusses practical aspects of ministry to the frail aged.
Toward Holy Ground is filled with personal insights and experience, as well as intellectual and spiritual dimensions. Guenther takes the reader on a journey through life – all phases of life, and brings us lovingly to the latter years, complete with a carefully selected saint to share in the adventure! The author takes us from holy ground to kingships, healing, wholeness, and harvest, and finally a good death. There is a deepening of faith and compassion as this reviewer read and re-read the pages. When she ends the book with the chapter, ‘Ministering with the Aging' (note that it is ministering WITH), I felt that every lay person and priest of the Episcopal Church should read this chapter as a requirement for ministry at any age... Of the many books I have read over the years dealing with the aging process in the journey of life, this book was one I could not put down, made complete sense for lay and clergy alike, enriched my own spirituality and sense of mission – and was a pilgrimage of renewed ministry. Don't fail to read this one!