I had life planned. The kids and I made a crafty family crest; a personal mission statement hung in my room; purpose and direction dictated our steps. And then . . .
And then the best possible thing happened, which felt like the worst possible thing that could happen.
Life . . . f E L l . . . A p A r T.
I mean, it didn’t just momentarily not work out until I could pull Plan B from my back pocket. It fell apart.
I felt so lost—no plan, mission statement, or family map . . . I hated it. I had no interest in hearing the answers I used to give—three steps for this, four steps for that. You don’t have a lot of answers when you’re scattered in pieces.
Without a map or mission statement, my quest began. I lifted my broken heart to the Lord and let Him lead. For years I had asked Him to do that, but I had wanted Him to be more of a passenger than leader. Funny how you give up the driver’s seat when you’ve crashed into a few walls—time to find a new driver!
So the Lord led . . . His way, not mine; His work, not mine. His truth lit the path.
My big crash happened years ago, but the work of following the Lord’s direction continues. As time has passed, I’ve gathered some books that filled my heart with hope. They are not quick-fix, three-step-plan books; they are search-your-soul kinds of works that will lead you to freedom as you follow Christ.
In no particular order, I’m listing my top ten books for traveling through life. I could include so many more, but these were especially significant as the Savior led me out of the wilderness to open spaces.
It may be time to admit you are lost. It’s okay—tell me all about it! Let’s share stories. I’ll be your traveling buddy. Let’s connect on some of these topics: vulnerability, forgiveness, endurance, hope, wisdom, the enemy, and our Savior who promises to restore and renew our joy as we follow Him.
Top Ten Books for Traveling Through Life
- The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown
- A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness by Gene Edwards
- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
- Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
- Job: A Man Of Heroic Endurance by Chuck Swindoll
- A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty by Joni Eareckson Tada
- The Gift of Pain by Philip Yancey and Paul Brand
- Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom
- Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr
- Turn My Mourning Into Dancing by Henri Nouwen
Which title strikes your attention? Let’s connect on that and where it may be leading you. I can’t wait to get going.
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