A wonderful new book as we begin the new year. I just finished reading Flunking Sainthood by Jana Reiss. it is a funny, realistic, encouraging, and challenging exploration of following spiritual disciplines in our lives. Of course, it also adds that she is a Cincinnati writer! Just think, a few years ago I would have not understood the Skyline references… anyway, the book is her journey over a year of trying several of the classic spiritual disciplines and several intentional practices in her discipleship journey – saying the Jesus prayer, fasting, lectio divina, sabbath, and several others.
What was very meaningful for me is that it is not a triumphalist book – she makes no bones about having trouble following the disciplines in daily life and trying to understand how we can practice these disciplines day-to-day. I have read plenty of books on spiritual disciplines and often go away feeling like I am nowhere close to being able to do them. Reiss strikes a solid balance between challenging us to try these practices and also her own experiences of trying to do them.
There are several that I read that I have been challenged to work into my own life going forward into this new year. I strongly encourage you to pick it up and prayerfully ask what God might be calling you to attempt in the coming year.
