The Ladder

I was introduced to Edward Hays years ago with his book, "Prayers for the Planetary Pilgrim." It has been a constant prayer guide for me over the years. I just bought and read "The Ladder." Through gentle and often humorous parables, he challenges us to view the world through new, more deeply spiritual eyes. Many of the parables are koan-like, designed to put the reader off kilter so that insight may occur. I found the book very easy to read, entertaining, reassuring and thought-provoking. Clearly, Edward Hays has done his own spiritual practice. The depth of his spiritual consciousness comes through in everything that he writes. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to live a life of greater integrity or who wants to become more perfected through union with the divine.

Ed Hays is swiftly becoming one of my favorite authors and the simple reason why is because he challenges me to think. Hays's method of story telling in this book is through the use of parables as, "Jesus, along with the Desert Mothers and Fathers, Zen masters, mystical rabbis, Sufi teachers and other great spirit-guides, have always pointed us toward the Promised Land of What-can-be." Now I am not trying to call this man a prophet or something greater, but just as these great teachers once did, Hays is doing for today. Providing those who are searching for an understanding or ways to solve the problems in our world today, (which cannot possibly be anything like they faced throughout all of history, ha!)insight into life with all its wonder, joys, and sorrow, that makes it such a great gift to be thankful for. I teach History and I love a good story, but I also teach Theology to seniors in high school and I have found on more than one occasion that reading just one story within this book can challenge my students to look beyond what is just in front of them and find that something which is greater.