Experiencing God: Fostering a Contemplative Life

Redemptorist priest Dennis Billy is a Catholic writer who may not be the bets known name in spiritual writing, but people who discover his writings find they've come across a treasure. My first introduction to Billy was his book UNDER A STARRY NIGHT: A WAYFARER'S GUIDE THROUGH AN UNCERTAIN WORLD. A local bookseller saw me browsing and recommended the book to me. I discovered a fresh spiritual voice that was true to Catholic perspective yet had a way of presenting and combining things in an original way. In EXPERIENCING GOD, Billy discusses a variety of ways people can experience God in daily life. His chapters are divided into "books" and each is like a mini retreat talk. He discusses methods of prayer, using scripture and psalms in prayer via Lectio Divina, using icons in prayer, finding God in nature, using art and architecture as a means of prayer and the importance of setting time aside for prayer. While Billy does not add anything all that new to any of the methods of prayer he shares, he does offer personal insights written in a way that sounds conversational, and the reader feels like one southerner is sharing insights with another. I found this book ideal for personal prayer. I could read a chapter in a short period of time and find all sorts of thoughts for reflection. This book is perfect for individual or group reading. At the end of each chapter or "book" there are discussion questions that make perfect journal exorcise or discussion questions. The book is basic enough for people who may be new to the spiritual life, but because he personalizes so much of what he ahs to say, people more experienced in prayer will appreciate his insights and will see new things as well.