2009
Celebration of Discipline
If only this book worked by osmosis – it would be perfect.
It sounds absolutely miserable, right? Titling a book Celebration of Discipline? Might as well be, In Praise of Misery or Honoring Melancholy. But I’ve now read it twice, and it was even better the second time around. Richard Foster’s spiritual discipline classic goes through the orthodox spiritual disciplines practiced through the century, presenting each in a challenging, thought-provoking, and sometimes humorous way. It’s a good mix of theory and practice, and serves as a great starting point for anyone wanting to get their feet wet on the classic Christian disciplines.
In all honesty, I was hoping this book would completely change my life. Rock my socks off. That I’d go from having a mediocre prayer and study life to being a spiritual master. That didn’t happen. But I have noticed improvement – the slow, gradual change I often see in my life and don’t even recognize until I’m on the other side of something. And that is something worth celebrating.
