Invitations from God

June 13, 2011
In a task-oriented society in which achievement and excellence are often held up as ultimate goals, it is sometimes hard to see, argues Calhoun (Spiritual Disciplines Handbook), that the world is replete with opportunities to be changed by encountering God. Calling God the "Great Inviter," Calhoun, a spiritual director, offers a persistent critique of modern culture and of status quo Christianity, along with advice on taking God up on these invitations: "Only free people know how to say yes and no." Culling gems from her own experiences seeking God, the author divides her book into a series of meditations on divine invitations, including the practices of following, forgiving, remembering, and "the most excellent" way of lovingâthe journey of growing into Christ's image. Breaking with the convention of adding questions at the end of each chapter, the writer begins each one with a useful introductory chart that lets readers know where she plans to take them. A challenging but straightforward and warm introduction to the spiritual life, Calhoun's book should be appropriate for Christians of all denominations.