The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality: Practical Lessons for Modern Living From the Monastic Tradition [Paperback]

David Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Drawing on timeless principles of monastic communal living, this spiritual guide for families offers effective tools to meet many challenges and counteract the divisive forces that can splinter a healthy home. Cultivating a sense of togetherness and nurturing the spiritual development of both the family and its individual members is a challenge that many find difficult to meet. Though hectic schedules and competing interests chip away at the sense of community and the support systems that family members need to thrive, each chapter of this book includes a practical lesson from the rule of St. Benedict and the Benedictine traditions which have been cornerstones of Western Christian monastic life for millennia. Spiritual practice, making time, discipline, sharing, hospitality, and changing family dynamics are some of the topics addressed in this wise and wide-ranging handbook, while exercises, checklists, and ideas for family activities are included at the end of every chapter. The gentle, reassuring tone offers encouragement to both traditional and nontraditional families, and reinforces the importance of parenting as a spiritual calling.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A truly fresh and new resource for all who want their homes and families to be places of nurturing, safety, and hope. This is practical and real and hope-filled, a must for every family—of every configuration."  —Laura Swan, author, Engaging Benedict and The Forgotten Desert Mothers

"Because the Christian family is a little faith community, Robinson discovers insights for family living from the sixth-century writings of St. Benedict, founder of monastic communities."  —Catholic Spirit

"[The] concept of parenting is deliberate, persistent, and guided by a deep belief that God wants the family to experience God’s love on a daily basis."  —Presbyterians Today

"Packed with creative, practical ideas that Robinson has devised for deepening family spirituality and harmony."  —Spiritual Life: A Journal of Contemporary Spirituality

"A long-awaited gift for today’s Christian family. For those families who are seeking more out of life, trying to incorporate deeply-held Christian beliefs into the sometimes chaotic experience of family, or seeking ways to pray better and get along better, this book is ideal."  —Spiritual Book News

"David Robinson, a Presbyterian pastor, has written a book that draws upon the Rule of St. Benedict to give counsel about modern family life."  —Catholic Faith Magazine

"Combining the tradition of the Benedictine order and his own experience, Robinson challenges the hectic lifestyle which so many families are caught up in today."  —Catholic News Service

"A Presbyterian pastor has investigated how the family can function as a kind of monastery."  —Dennis Okholm, professor of theology, Azusa Pacific University, and author, Monk Habits for Everyday People

About the Author

David Robinson is the author of The Christian Family Toolbox. He is pastor of Community Presbyterian Church and a Benedictine Oblate of Mount Angel Abbey. He lives in Cannon Beach, Oregon.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: The Crossroad Publishing Company (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824525248
• ISBN-13: 978-0824525248
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Robinson is author of four books on Benedictine spirituality including:
1) Ancient Paths: Discover Christian Formation the Benedictine Way (Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2010);
2) The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality: Practical Lessons for Modern Living from the Monastic Tradition (New York, NY: Crossroad Publishing, 2009);
3) The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home (Crossroad, 2000); winner of Catholic Press Association for "Best Family Life" book, 2001;
4) The Christian Family Toolbox: 52 Benedictine Activities for the Home (Crossroad, 2001).

David serves as Pastor of Community Presbyterian Church, Cannon Beach, Oregon. He is married with three grown sons. David is a Benedictine Oblate with Mount Angel Abbey.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sample of Ideas from THE BUSY FAMILY'S GUIDE TO SPIRITUALITY, May 13, 2010

By 

David G. Robinson "David Robinson" (Cannon Beach, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality: Practical Lessons for Modern Living From the Monastic Tradition (Paperback)

HERE ARE A SAMPLE OF IDEAS FOR BUSY FAMILIES from The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality
1. Rely upon children's booklists: Look into titles such as "Choosing Books for Children";
"Books that Build Character"; "Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children";
"The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children".
2. Drop everything and read (D.E.A.R. time): Encourage daily reading time in your home, including read-aloud time together.
3. Plant "flower beds" of quiet: Give your children the beauty of set times for quiet.
4. Develop bedtime rituals: Read stories aloud, pray together, say nighttime blessings.
5. Encourage Study: Help children learn to meditate, study the Bible, journal, and explore nature.
6. Turn your home into a family art school: Help children explore a whole variety of creative arts.
7. Play and laugh together: Encourage a playful spirit in the home.
Come explore more such practical ideas in THE BUSY FAMILY'S GUIDE TO SPIRITUALITY!
The Busy Family's Guide to Spirituality: Practical Lessons for Modern Living From the Monastic Tradition