The Attentive Life

March 10, 2008
Ford would seem an unlikely candidate to write a gentle, moving introduction to traditional monastic spirituality. As Billy Graham’s brother-in-law and frequent stand-in, Ford’s evangelical bona fides are unquestionable. Yet he describes the details of life at Mepkin Abbey, a Trappist monastery in South Carolina, with the eye of the avid amateur painter he also is. Reading this book you’ll find yourself scribbling down prayers from obscure medieval figures like a certain St. Fursey. Ford is also appealing as he describes odd gestures he’s willing to make in search of the God who’s present in the everyday: hugging a tree, hugging himself in an airport with passersby all around, revealing his own struggles with his image and how to pursue God rather than his own self-aggrandizement. He does make a distinctly Protestant addition to the tradition of monastic spirituality, insisting that the most rigorous of spiritual practices are for all believers. The few missteps are slight: Ford’s references to his heavy travel schedule and frequent vacations do threaten to make this feel like a spirituality for the upper-middle class only, and his readings of scripture tend to the emotive and literal.

March 1, 2008
Ford's credentials include 30 years of service with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, as well as frequent appearances on Graham's "Hour of Decision" radio broadcast. A spirit of ecumenism informs Ford's gracefully written guide to thoughtful prayer and attentiveness to God's voice, based on the very ancient Christian ritual of praying the canonical Hours. Each section is accompanied by a short reflection on "One Who Paid Attention," including the likes of Henri Nouwen, C.S. Lewis, and Ford's dog Wrangler. Ford includes an appendix with suggested prayers for observing the Hours. For most collections.

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