Everyday Simplicity: A Practical Guide to Spiritual Growth

All the works of this author are a marvelous guide/ Traveling across the desert with Wicks was an excellent experience. Now, a group of friends and I are using Everyday Simplicity for prarer and reflective sharing when we meet twice a month. The work shows the infuence of Thomas Merton who I consider my mentor since college days and now I am 72. Read this book but not only read it but pray, reflect and share it with others

Not too long ago I was looking for a book and stumbled upon a title I purchased many years ago, Robert Wicks' EVERYDAY SIMPLICITY. For me finding a book I forgot I owned is an invitation for exploration and this book was worth the while. Wicks is a popular Catholic spiritual writer with many loyal readers. His writing style is always clear, his applications practical, and he has the ability to present material that is inviting to new readers but offers a new perspective for people familiar with his works. EVERYDAY SIMPLICITY offers a series of entries about ways we can make our lives simpler and become more attuned to God's work in our lives. He begins by looking at the the spiritual life in general: openness, simplicity, remembering, them moves to prayer and concludes with living compassionately. With this format Wicks shows the Christian spiritual tradition at its best--looking first at the self, developing a relationship with God through prayer, and then reaching out to others. Wicks states at the beginning that his intention for the book is not for it to be read in one or two sittings. Each topic should be approached separately. Ideally the book would be read twice, a first time to savor the material and lessons, a second time for application. It also has a collection of prayers that can serve as a means of refection for a month. The prayers can coincide with reflections or could stand on their own. For me, this book has been a helpful way to enter into [prayer. The reflections are short enough to read in a brief time and help me settling in for further prayer and reflection. The cover of the book has an illustration of a coffee cup and this may be a fitting way to approach the book. Early in the morning or midday with a cup of coffee in hand, take the book, read an entry and reflect. It would certainly be in keeping with Wicks' intention in writing the book and will help readers grow as well.

This little book is packed with daily reflections and meditations that are useful to anyone. It makes a very special gift to anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. The reflections are short and meaniful on a variety of topics that truly reflect everyday life. It is the little book tht can be used over and over. It can be opened to any reflection depending upon the reader's need or interest at that particular time. It fits perfectly into a pocket or purse and becomes a favorite to all who own and read it. It is a favorite gift of mine to give or mail to someone.

Wicks bases the theme of his excellent book on the Sanskrit word "visvas." "Visvas" is similar in meaning to the English word "faith." One translation is "to breath easily, have trust, be free from fear." In order to achieve "visvas," Wicks suggests a threefold regimen: nourish a spiritual attitude, design a rule of prayer, and learn how to share ourselves with others in a compassionate way.There were several features of this little book I liked a lot. Wicks uses passages from an interesting range of spiritual masters upon which to reflect. These include people like Abraham Joshua Heschel and Henri Nouwen, two favorites of mine, and Mark Twain, an unexpected delight. Wicks also summarizes his main points as "Spiritual Tenets" at the end of each chapter. I found that very helpful.

This 203-page book is a gem! I found it to be easy to read and yet power-packed with thought-provoking ways to help one's spirituality to grow. I believe this book could be of benefit to every Christian who seeks to grow closer to God. Its tenets help guide both the novice and the master of prayer and it clearly spells out practical ways of bringing the spiritual into daily life. It is delightful, practical, and inspiring with easy steps to enhance our spirituality. Dr. Wicks wrote a superb book that is non-threatening to the beginner of prayer and of the search for God and growth in spiritual life, and yet it is still challenging to those who have been journeying for some time and who simply need to get back to the basics. The book helps nourish a spiritual attitude by focusing on such topics as faithfulness, openness, simplicity, gratefulness, and remembering. Dr. Wicks encourages the reader to develop in one's own life a "little rule" to follow for the practice of prayer and talks about silence, talking with God, appreciating scripture, sharing faith with others, and sacred reading.This book should not be passed up by anyone who wants to get closer to God.