16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended to Those Looking for a Rich Devotional, December 8, 2009
This review is from: Souvenirs of Solitude: Finding Rest in Abba's Embrace (Hardcover)
Beloved author Brennan Manning is known for his thoughtful, challenging books, including RUTHLESS TRUST and THE RAGAMUFFIN GOSPEL. His longtime fans will recognize SOUVENIRS OF SOLITUDE as a second edition of a work originally published in 1979, which offers a collection of Manning's thoughts from that era. Many of the themes that he has been teaching for more than 40 years are expressed with exuberance and exhilaration, one of which is simply God's boundless love for us.
Manning acknowledges that silence and solitude are treasured commodities in life, and notes that his restless self only discovers peace when he finds his rest in God. Yet convincing others of this truth has proven an uphill battle. He recognizes that part of his need for alone time can be attributed to his personality and describes himself as an "introvert-intuitive, feeler-perceiver type." As a result, one of Manning's primary needs is simply to be alone. He writes:
"As a hungry man needs food and a thirsty man water, I need solitude --- time to achieve a state of peace and recollection from which I can function and give to others what I was meant to in the personal plan of God for me."
Yet despite this need, Manning says he wrestled with feeling guilt. After all, isn't alone time just a way to skirt responsibility? Waste time? Embrace idleness? What he discovered was that the alone time with God is time to be treasured. The moments of silence and solitude reveal the love story of his passion for God. By revisiting these moments with God, Manning draws on a rich well of spiritual lessons, insights from God, and instances when he heard God's voice echo in his life.
SOUVENIRS OF SOLITUDE is a collection of these moments. Most of the memories (or souvenirs as he calls them) are only a few pages long, allowing the book to be used as a devotional as each of the short chapters ends with a prayer-filled poem. Chapters include "The Beauty of the Eucharistic Liturgy," "Hopeful or Wishful Thinking," and "Christmas Reflections at O'Hare." In a particularly insightful chapter, "Good Humor," Manning challenges readers to reflect on their own disposition on life and notes that a zealous and humorless evangelist can cause others to want to avoid religion altogether:
"Through good humor, a Christian triumphs over that subtle form of egotism that would make him pose as a martyr or at least a victim that makes him want to be noticed, consoled, or placed on a pedestal. And it makes community life richer and more delightful."
Such gentle reminders line the pages of SOUVENIRS OF SOLITUDE. Manning draws from life, literature and scripture to illustrate his message. Though some will long for him to go into more depth on some of the topics, most will enjoy the brevity. Fans will be glad to see this second edition of the book released and find themselves challenged by its thoughts and reflections. Recommended to those looking for a rich devotional.
--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Souveneirs of Solitude, May 3, 2010
This review is from: Souvenirs of Solitude: Finding Rest in Abba's Embrace (Hardcover)
Souveneirs of Solitude is a book of devotional thoughts by Brennan Manning, author of the The Ragamuffin Gospel. I must admit as a reviewer it was somewhat difficult to speed through this book. It wasn't that it was difficult to read or that it was theologically demanding. Manning has provided some good devotional thoughts, but I felt as though there was no order to them. It would be a nice book to pick up from time to reflect on something Manning has to say, instaed of trying to digest it in the span of a few days.
Each chapter contains one devotional thought and a prayer. The devotional's subjects vary from chapter to chapter. One moment you are reading about the Eucharist and the next you are reading about Christmas. I found most of the devotionals to be beneficial, but not connected in any way. I enjoyed the prayers at the end of each chapter. In my life I have known people are who are good at praying. They just seem to be able to talk to God better than others. I believe we can learn some things from these people. Manning is an individual who is very much at ease when he talks to God. It is something that probably comes naturally to him. His prayers are a blessing to those who read them. Manning's book is not for everyone, but if you are looking for a devotional book to keep around the house and reflect on from time to time it may be just what you are looking for.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Navpress as part of their book review program for bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Be Prepared........., October 30, 2009
This review is from: Souvenirs of Solitude: Finding Rest in Abba's Embrace (Hardcover)
Be prepared to find out what Solitude REALLY should be Like. Brother Manning really tells us through his life stories what God desires in out quiet times. Think you know what Solitude with the Father is.......................you have NO clue. MY book of the year.............easily!!!!!! Peace-Mike
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