Invisible Lines of Connection: Sacred Stories of the Ordinary (The Kushner series) [Hardcover]

Lawrence Kushner (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Kushner series | Publication Date: April 1996

Lawrence Kushner, whose previous books have opened up new spiritual possibilities, now tells us stories in a new literary form. Through his everyday encounters with family, friends, colleagues, and strangers, Kushner takes us deeply into our lives, finding flashes of spiritual insight in the process. Such otherwise ordinary moments as fighting with his children, shopping for bargain basement clothes, or just watching a movie are revealed to be touchstones for the sacred.

This is a book where literature meets spirituality, where the sacred meets the ordinary, and, above all, where people of all faiths, all backgrounds, can meet one another and themselves. Kushner ties together the stories of our lives into a roadmap showing how everything ordinary is supercharged with meaning if we can just see it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What do ordinary stories about stamp collecting, Federal Express packages, Hershey bars with almonds, a child's blue hat and trout fishing have in common? In Kushner's hands, they turn into a road map showing how the mundane can become avenues for exploring the sacred connections in our lives. In each of 42 short chapters, Kushner develops a picture of something tactile-a bowl of peaches, a navigational computer-then tags it with a spiritual punch line. On wool pants: "Of course organized religion itches. It is trying to hold a crease in life." Instead of being devoid of meaning, everyday encounters resonate with symbolism, paths to uncovering a reverence for God, appreciation of family and acceptance of responsibility to others. A Massachusetts rabbi and author of eight books on spirituality, Kushner writes with compelling lyricism that's easy to read. But his final product is uneven. Sometimes, the connections between what we see and what we don't offer sparks of insight that produce a shiver of recognition. At other times, the chapters are lightweight, falling short of the spiritual edge Kushner tries to hone.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Rabbi Kushner's (The Book of Words, LJ 1/94) stories reveal epiphanies in the many circumstances of everyday life where we least expect to find them: in family arguments over the car, at a fruitstand selling peaches, in an old hand-knit baby's hat. With grace, humor, and wit, Kushner reflects on matters of family, friendship, work, and play; he shares with the reader his appreciation for the "invisible lines of connection"?the gifts and guises of everyday life that bind us to each other and to our divine source. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing; First Trade Edition edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879045524
• ISBN-13: 978-1879045521
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,371,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best written of the recent wave of sweet inspirational books, October 17, 1997

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[e-mail] "[e-mail]" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Invisible Lines of Connection: Sacred Stories of the Ordinary (The Kushner series) (Hardcover)

There have been many books of this genre lately, but this is by far the best written. In four dozen short, free associational essays, Kushner addresses many of the deeper issues of life. If you are looking for an accessible way of thinking about the problem of evil, the dilemma of closeness and letting go, the issue of meaning within apparent chaos, this is the book to read. Some will want to go to deeper and more challenging books after this one. For those who like dessert before the main course, Kushner is the choice.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyday Meaning, November 25, 2001

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groupworker (Midwest United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Invisible Lines of Connection: Sacred Stories of the Ordinary (The Kushner series) (Paperback)

I borrowed this book from a friend and have already read it twice. As a Jewish professional, I had heard about "the other Rabbi Kushner!" but had not read his writings before. I loved his down to earth, practical, easy to embrace spirituality combined with his intellect, humor and modesty. I am trying to figure out how I can use this book in my work - thank you Rabbi Kushner.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We Are All Connected..., March 31, 2006

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Katie "book worm" (PA , USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Invisible Lines of Connection: Sacred Stories of the Ordinary (The Kushner series) (Paperback)

I found "Invisible Lines of Connection" to be a really insightful, enjoyable read. In fact, I didn't want the book to end!

Through a series of true, personal short-stories, the author (Lawrence Kushner) shows how sacred our daily experiences/lives are, and how everyone & everything is ultimately connected to everyone/thing else.

The stories are categorized under four "main" topics - that of reverence, inheritance, responsibility & connection - with each story providing examples of how each of these topics can show up in our lives.

I really liked the fact that the author put himself out there - sharing HIS stories, so that we all might gain an understanding through his experiences.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in those invisible, pervasive lines of connection that influence our lives, and help to make us who we are.