Watch for the Light

Watch for the Light
Readings for Advent and Christmas
By Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Annie Dillard,
Thomas Merton, Kathleen Norris, C. S. Lewis,
Henri Nouwen, and others
(Plough Publishing)
ISBN: 978-0874869170
September 2014/344 pages/Hardcover/$24.00

Though Christians the world over make yearly preparations for Lent, there’s a conspicuous lack of good books for that other great spiritual season: Advent. All the same, this four-week period leading up to Christmas is making a comeback as growing numbers reject shopping-mall frenzy and examine the deeper meaning of the season.

Ecumenical in scope, these fifty devotions invite the reader to contemplate the great themes of Christmas and the significance that the coming of Jesus has for each of us – not only during Advent, but every day. Whether sampled at leisure or used on a daily basis, Watch for the Light gives the phrase “holiday preparations” new depth and meaning.

Includes writings by John Donne, Meister Eckhart, Dorothy Day, T. S. Eliot, Gustavo Gutiérrez, Eberhard Arnold, G. M. Hopkins, Martin Luther, Edith Stein, Thomas Aquinas, Dorothee Soelle, Philip Yancey, and others.

FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
It's hard to go wrong with 40 essays and poems from theological writers such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dorothy Day, Madeleine L'Engle, Martin Luther, Kathleen Norris, Henri Nouwen, Philip Yancey, Karl Barth and Síren Kierkegaard. These are not frivolous, feel-good Advent readings; they are deep, sometimes jarring reflections, many with a strong orientation toward social justice… This collection, born of obvious passion and graced with superb writing, is a welcome even necessary addition to the glutted holiday bookshelves. (Publishers Weekly, starred review)


MY THOUGHTS

We often give lip service to "the reason for the season" but fail to fully appreciate the deep significance of Christmas. This book will cause you to pause, reflect during these holy days. Written by some of the hallmark theological authors, these are not a breezy read but ones to soak in and contemplate. Some are brief--a page or two--while others are a bit lengthier. (Having recently received the book, I haven't had the time to read every devotion so as always, hold what you read against the plumb line of scripture.) Even though we are well into December, it is not too late to benefit from this book.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advanced copy of this book free from Handlebar Publicity as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”