No Moment Too Small: Rhythms of Silence, Prayer, and Holy Reading

This book is divided into three primary sections/disciplines: Silence, Prayer and Holy Reading. I knew that the book would challenge me immediately in the chapter on silence....it was so good I kept thinking that I wanted to talk about it to my friends. I realized in that chapter how little inward and outward silence I really have. The suggestions were practical and on target. The Benedictine approach is something rarely discussed in my circle of fellow Christians and in the church that I attend. Some of the language used was awkward and foreign to me at first. The message, however is wonderful. We can all find greater spirituality in the ordinary things that we do. We can all find greater peace and love in Christ every day. Because some of the ideas were somewhat new to me, I had a slight feeling of "aloneness" when I started reading the book. Then at the end, it was all brought together in one of the most powerful thoughts: "Living the Gospel is about being in Love. It is knowing that we are never alone"This book will most likely be one of the few I keep close by and reference frequently. It is a book that draws the reader back to the wisdom it offers.

No Moment Too Small by Noreen Vest is a concise, very readable, exploration of three of the building blocks in Benedictine Sprituality. Her discussion of "Lectio Divina," Holy Reading, makes the journey into this discipline easy to approach. Especially helpful is her explanation of the various ways of interpreting the Scripture for devotional use. Ms. Vest opens the door to a rewarding prayer life with a rich discussion on prayer as dwelling in the presence of God. I would recommend this book all those wanting to understand more completely the beauty of solitude, prayer and holy reading in the Benedictine life.