Pray, Write, Grow -- A Book Review
About the Book:
If you want to improve your prayer life, try writing.
If you want to improve your writing life, try praying.
The two require many of the same practices, disciplines, and virtues. If you’re already inclined to both write and pray, you may as well figure out how they can help each other. If you’re experienced in one, you may find opportunities for personal or spiritual growth by trying out the other.
This book offers life-giving practices that will help you grow in both prayer and writing and show how the two can work together to improve your craft as a writer and your spiritual practices as a person of faith.
About the Author:
Ed Cyzewski is the author of Coffeehouse Theology, A Christian Survival Guide, and other books. He writes about the intersection of prayer and writing at edcyzewski.com. He lives in Columbus, OH with his wife and two sons where they obsess over New York style pizza and organic gardening. Get two free eBook shorts and future book discounts by joining his newsletter: eepurl.com/dD6q.
My Review:
I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but after reading its description, I was intrigued as both a writer and a Christian. I was delighted by the clear, informal writing used by the author, making each chapter easy to read and understand. There were a few resources mentioned that I was unfamiliar with and had to look up, but otherwise, the book is well-laid out and informative.
As a writer, I was encouraged by the reminder that everything in my life--good and bad--can be writing material. Writing about my struggles, fears, growth, and the like has the potential to help others who are going through the same things. The book also reminded me not to overlook the importance of informal/non-work-related writing, such as journaling. Sometimes writing things out helps us get to the place where we find a solution. These were powerful and much-needed reminders.
As a Christian, I was particularly encouraged by the fact that a wandering mind doesn't have to be a bad thing. I tend to get so frustrated with myself when my mind wanders, especially during my prayer time. But as the author points out, if the mind is wandering to it, it's obviously something that needs to be prayed about. Instead of berating myself, I can use that mind roaming as a prompt to pray about the situation to which my mind wandered. This realization was such a blessing, and I know it will significantly impact my prayer time for years to come.
Even if you're not a writer, I believe every Christian should read this book. Though I may not agree with everything within its pages, it has provided several elements to help me grow both in my spiritual walk and in my writing craft. Overall, the book is a short read but well worth the time.
