Coming Up for Air: Simple Acts to Redefine Your Life [Paperback]

Margaret Becker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 23, 2006

Artist Margaret Becker shares her personal story of exhaustion, loneliness, faith, and success in a lighthearted yet thought-provoking story. Through her experiences women will learn how to redefine, reclaim, and rejuvenate their lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dove Award–winning recording artist Becker intentionally "disconnected" over 10 years ago and has not been the same since. In 1995, Becker a one-month retreat at an oceanside rental, where her only promise to herself was to stop each day to take in both the sunrise and the sunset. Becker, in her usual self-deprecating comedic style, offers simple daily life observances like holy offerings. Somehow, she manages to offer gentle humor and pull at heartstrings, too. Becker aptly conveys what might be the book's defining statement: "Some things are worth digging for, even if they come up swinging when they are unearthed." During her stay, she played like a child, taking crayons in hand and making life stories and spiritual benchmarks for the next 30 years, projecting, "I will be earthy and a bit eccentric, but I will be wise." Becker defines her retreat's life lessons, then jumps ahead to the present, reflecting without regret on which of those scribblings have come to pass. Women of all ages will feast on Becker's colorful, earthy spiritual recollections and sit back well-satisfied as they take time to digest her musings. (Mar. 15)
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From the Back Cover

"From time to time, I felt my life separate from me as though it belonged to someone else. It was as if I were fulfilling a role that seemed familiar but, in truth, was not my own." Margaret Becker, Coming Up for Air How did I end up here? Has that question ever flashed through your mind? Perhaps you feel as though life has just pushed you along, leaving your dreams and aspirations in its wake. Have you ever wondered if you're living the life God designed for you? Take an adventurous dive with Margaret Becker as she chronicles her own personal journey of discovery. Becker daringly opens a Pandora's box of life details, tackling subjects such as exhaustion, loneliness, faith, true success versus perceived success, family, finances--even tooth flossing--in a lighthearted yet thought-provoking narrative. With equal parts wisdom, humor, playfulness, and spirituality, Becker offers a simple process that lets you come up for air while you redefine, reclaim, and rejuvenate your life.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (February 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576839346
• ISBN-13: 978-1576839348
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #751,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshment of the Spirit, July 9, 2006

By 

Douglas A. Eid "The Male Elementary School Te... (Rockford, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Coming Up for Air: Simple Acts to Redefine Your Life (Paperback)

I've decided that Margaret Becker is the best Christian author since CS Lewis. I loved her music (especially the lyrics.) She has translated that open and brutally honest style of writing to books. This book shows an understanding of what it is like to be overwhelmed by the "tyranny of the busy" and how to break that cycle. I appreciate it is from a single person's point of view and the loneliness that can result from that. However, it is a loneliness that can apply to married or partnered adults as well. Her amusing attempt to reconnect with her childhood and the wonders that entailed were a joy to read. I recommend this book to anyone who is feeling overwhelmed with life and losing that important spiritual connection to our heart, soul, love, and God.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This Book Is A Breath of Fresh Air! A Must-Read, April 5, 2006

By 

Barbara (Tulsa, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Coming Up for Air: Simple Acts to Redefine Your Life (Paperback)

I tried to give this book 5 stars and the Amazon system wouldn't let me.

This is the first book review I have ever written, but I am an avid reader. I can read 2-3 books a day sometimes. I don't remember the last time I read a book this great. It's laugh-out-loud funny. Not just a polite little chuckle -- I mean laughing until you are gasping for air.

I don't know many people who would not relate to this book. We are all too busy and we don't take the time to think about why we are here and what we are doing as opposed to what we really want to do. Margaret leads you through the process of re-thinking your talents and goals, but without the didactic prose that characterizes many other works. Prepare to be shaken from your lethargy --- it is a dynamic, life-changing book. It is also very engaging. It's not a suspense book but it is a real page-turner; it's hard to avoid reading it in one sitting.

My best friend, unlike me, is a person who seldom reads, but has read this one three times, and still can't put it down. There is just a lot to think about here. I believe this could easily become a Christian classic. But I think anyone would benefit from it and enjoy reading it, whether Christian or not. It's not filled with churchy gobbledygook. It is a much-needed breath of fresh air. It is full of life, joy, and warmth.

P.S. Read Margaret's "With New Eyes," too -- it's also wonderful.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DESTINED TO BE A CLASSIC!, April 15, 2006

By 

Don Pape "BookMan" (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Coming Up for Air: Simple Acts to Redefine Your Life (Paperback)

I have been privileged to see Margaret Becker present some of this material live and she is truly the 'real deal'. As one reviewer has already indicated, this should be a classic! Insightful, lyrical, humorous, passionate - all describe Ms. Becker and the contents of this book. I want to give everyone whose life is being suffocated this rich book - for it is indeed a life-giving title. Pardon the pun, but this is truly a breath of fresh air!