May I Have This Dance?: An Invitation to Faithful Prayer Throughout the Year [Paperback]

Joyce Rupp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

This revised edition of Joyce Rupp's best-selling book May I Have This Dance? (over 158,000 copies sold) has been updated with new guided meditations for each month of the year. Joyce Rupp invites readers to join God in the dance of life. She explores twelve themes, including "The Road to Life" and "The Playground of God," following each with prayer suggestions such as litanies, guided meditations, and journal keeping. Readers will be delighted to accept the invitation to dance with the Divine Partner--a dance of truth and wholeness--throughout the seasons of the year.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Ave Maria Press; 15th Anniversary edition (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594711321
• ISBN-13: 978-1594711329
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars May God's Life Dance within You, October 8, 2007

By 

Carol Blank (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: May I Have This Dance?: An Invitation to Faithful Prayer Throughout the Year (Paperback)

In this revised edition of Joyce Rupp's 1992 book, as in the original, monthly themes are connected to daily life and the seasons of the year. In the introduction Rupp invites us to "be more faithful to prayer, be more constant to the dance of life that God desires for us." Each chapter consists of a Rupp poem, scripture passage, reflection, suggestions for prayer, guided meditation, and closing prayer.

The reflection for March, entitled Leaning on God, begins with the author's discovery of lean-tos during a mountain hike. "I imagined cattle, horses, and sheep seeking shelter, finding comfort from the harsh storms that can come so quickly to the high places," she writes. From there, she explores the human need for lean-tos and offers examples in the life of Jesus, mentioning his visits with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus as he traveled. In the Garden of Olives, Jesus turned in vain to the disciples for comfort, and as he suffered on the cross he directed John to act as Mary's lean-to.

Rupp addresses the common tendency to resist relying on others and urges us to examine what keeps us from leaning on God or others. She suggests that we become aware of lean-tos in the world, bus shelters, shade trees, and awnings, for example. That awareness can bring to mind our own spiritual shelters, and we can take a moment to give thanks for them.

As Rupp explains, this book is flexible enough for everyone to use, individually or in a group, at time intervals of our choice. The suggestions for prayer in each chapter provide a variety of opportunities to write, reflect, draw, and read scripture. And the author's prayer is with us: "May God's life dance within you as you pause for quiet places and prayer in your busy life."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting and Genuine, May 15, 2009

By 

M. D. Ross - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: May I Have This Dance?: An Invitation to Faithful Prayer Throughout the Year (Paperback)

We have used this book as a couples' book for our group. It is wonderful for this type of thing because it is separated by month. Each month is appropriate for the season and Joyce Rupp's poems are so wonderful and her spiritual insights and writing are great. We all enjoyed the book. I have since lent May I Have This Dance to a 84 year old widow friend who liked it so much she asked me to order two copies for her! Great Book!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accept this dance, November 12, 2008

By 

H. Halloran (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: May I Have This Dance?: An Invitation to Faithful Prayer Throughout the Year (Paperback)

Monthly, this book touches you in places where you may have been dormant. I feel as if this book was written especially for me to read. With wonderful examples, Joyce Rupp shares her journey and challenges you to dance with God. As gifts, I have given this book to many people so they also can have a guide for their journey through life. Monthly, a group of my friends get together to share how the particular monthly chapter has affected them. I have read many, many spiritual books but somehow go back to this one when I feel that my spiritual life is dry. Joyce's book gives me sustenance for the journey.