By Tom Graves

In this collection of columns and prayers gleaned from 47 years as a pastor, Graves gently but decisively nudges us toward a life of faith and devotion to God. Affectionate and wise, his vignettes show us a big-hearted, generous faith – big enough to include all of us and generous enough to never give up on any of us.

Graves writes about his faith journey with wonder, gratitude, and an irrepressible love of God’s creation. Clearly, this is a man of faith who relishes life, which makes his faith all the more appealing and accessible to the reader.

From his first meditation – entitled “Alive?” – Graves entreats us to focus on what we “long to attain” to measure how we are using God’s gift of life. He ends this first entry with, “We are all dying? Are we really living?” With insight and tenderness, he proceeds to show us how God’s love – made real and specific through Christ – can lead us to a more authentic and richly satisfying life.

Graves keeps his spirituality firmly planted in solid scenes and believable metaphors as he chronicles how faith translates into everyday life. Inspiring but not dogmatic, he communicates the gospel with compassion and concreteness. Learning to float teaches us about trust, a flower garden is a metaphor for spiritual discipline, an accident becomes a lesson on grace.

Whether describing snorkeling, driving during a fog, his son’s room after leaving for college, sailing, or a willow tree, Graves shows us how faith can affirm, heal, challenge, and, if we remain open to it, make us better persons. A willingness to take risks, just as God took a risk with us, is a recurring theme in the book, as are renewal, acceptance, and community.

Though always warm and life-affirming, Graves does not shy away from serious subjects like suffering and sorrow. Rather, he convincingly conveys how a deep personal faith can help one endure the tough times, make sense of the world, and make a difference in the lives of others.

Reviewed by Patti Simmons, Director of Foundation Relations for the Texas Methodist Foundation. Dr. Tom Graves is a retired member of the North Texas Annual Conference and former Texas Methodist Foundation board member.

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