DallasWillardCenterBookandResearchAwardFinalistHeartsMindsBookstore’sBestBooksof2015,SpiritualityandtheDevotionalLife“ThisisabookwrittenspecificallyforthoseofuswhoareassignedthetaskofdevelopinganimaginationforlivingtheChristianfaithwithinsightandskillinandforasocietythatisdisconnectedfromthebiblicalrevelationandtheJesusincarnation,“writesEugenePetersonintheforewordofTheCultivatedLife.“ButitisequallyusefulforallofuswhoarecommittedtofollowingJesuswithourfamiliesandcoworkersandneighbors.“SociologyprofessorandspiritualdirectorSusanPhillipswalksusthroughthe“circus“ofourculturallandscapetoinviteusintoacultivatedlifeofspirituality.Ifwewanttoaccepttheinvitationtoreturntothegarden,thenwemustfacedownthetemptationtolivelifeasspectatorsofthecircusthatplaysonaroundus.WewanttoberootedandgroundedinChrist,butarepushedtowardconstantwork,alternatingbetweenperformanceandspectacle.Cultivationrequiresakindofattentivenessthatiscounterculturaltoourageofdistraction.Thesepagesunfoldthespiritualpracticesthatcanleadusintoanewanddelightfulwayofliving.Areyoureadytoleavethecircus?
