Sacred Dwelling

Wright's book came at a time in my life when I needed to learn that family can exist as a spiritual unit. For Christians, there are no separate spheres of family life and spiritual life. In all we do as Christian families, we must make sure that there is adequate time to reflect on the presence of God in our lives--in our actions, in our relationships, and in our service.

A few sentences from the introduction describe the subject and emphasis of this book: "I fell in love with the great mystics and ascetics of our church.....I experienced the capacity of prayer and silence to reshape the human heart...". "But, I also learned that our tradition contains some assumptions about the mode of living required to cultivate an authentic spiritual life that excludes Christians living the ordinary life".And, the author sets out to explain the ways that God can be experienced by those in family life, who can't go join a monastery. In each chapter she discusses a different way: birth, peacemaking, the practice of Charity, the meal-table as sacred, caring for the elderly family members, etc...She gives the readers a spiritual perspectives on many things families commonly do, but see as drudgery. Usually it works, occasionally the language is too abstract and perhaps a stretch... I do think I will remember this book too, and see many things I do in my family life differently. Good footnote references for further reading. Overall, a very worthwhile book, that could have great value for someone wondering 'how can I see in the chaos that is my home?'.

Like the other reviewer of this book, I found this book stayed with me. An example of one of the 'lessons' I learned was Wright's answer to the question, What can we learn from the Domestic Church? (That is, the part of the church that is oour family, at home..) Part of her anser was that 'it is about welcoming and letting go..'. She has tremendous insight on bringing church home- the living of it in families. I highly reccommend it.

I read this book about four years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. I am now purchasing it because it is such an excellent book. I would highly recommend its deep spiritual message. Wendy Wright speaks right to your heart as a parent!