A Field Guide to God: A Seeker's Manual

by Patty Kirk

A thoughtful, courageous exploration, in the tradition of Kathleen Norris's Amazing Grace , of how to actively seek God and find evidence of God's presence from a believer who experienced a decade of unbelief. In her Confessions of an Amateur Believer , Patty Kirk gave readers an honest account of what it means to embark on a real relationship with God in today's world. Now, in A Field Guide to A Seeker's Manual , she turns her engaging prose on a more practical matter how to discover God's presence in a world where we can't see, touch, or hear him. Courageously expressing her struggles with faith and doubt, Patty Kirk shows how to reencounter God in both conventional and unexpected ways. From new ways of reading the Bible and experiencing prayer to remembering how we've experienced God in our past and remaining open to indirect messages in everyday life, she helps readers bring more meaning and hope to the faith journey. In addition, each chapter concludes with simple, creative exercises that help you reach out to God. She encourages readers to step out of longing and passive seeking to take action and creatively pursue a God who is always there.

Genres: Spirituality

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2010

About the author

Patty Kirk is the author of "Confessions of an Amateur Believer" and subsequent books on topics ranging from food memoir to her lifelong struggle to sense God’s presence. Raised in California and Connecticut, she spent her early adult years abroad and now lives on a farm in Oklahoma and teaches writing just across the Arkansas state-line at John Brown University, where she is Associate Professor of English and Writer in Residence. She and her husband, Kris, have two college-aged daughters, Charlotte and Lulu. Patty's passions are cooking, gardening, watching birds, and running on the back roads.

Reviews

[Melissa Fondakowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really riled me up! Not since seminary have I had so much reaction to a book I've read. Kirk is a great writer - honest, clear - and yet, I just felt such strong disagreement with so many things she believes, presents as proof, and tells us we can also believe if only we try harder. Kirk is entitled to these beliefs - and in reading them I was challenged to get clear about my own beliefs. The exercise reminded me about my Liberation Theology course in which, according to our amazing teacher James Cone, you begin to know what you believe when you see, in what others have written, what you know for sure you do not believe. And seeing someone else's beliefs that you cannot get down with forces you to say exactly why. It's personal - to do this, to really dig into your reason and understand your faith and belief. I think this is what Kirk was doing, and agree or not, her book helped me to do it too.

[Jessica Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is this a good read for rekindling your passion for your faith? Possibly. Is it a slow read with repetitive points and some common sense reminders? Yes.

[Casey Dougherty]

Kirk “disliked” Mother Theresa until she found out about her struggles with faith in a posthumous publication of her personal writings? DNF

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorites.....

The Blessings received from Loss

Grief illuminates our humanity.
The more we work through our losses, the more we value differences in others.
Appreciation is heightened.
We search our souls and set priorities.
Passion is enriched.
Desire to serve others..
Gain sensitivity.
Death reminds us that life here is impermanent and that every second is precious.
Grief teaches humility.
Improving the quality of our inner lives and then turning outward to enhance our relationships.
Love transcends the body and is eternal.
When we face our own mortality, we learn to live life to the fullest.
Our relationships become enhanced.
Mourning creates self-authenticity
Spirituality is increased.
Wisdom is acquired.

[Rick Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patty Kirk's candid confession about how she came to lose sight of God only to later discover His prescence in her life in ways more powerful and clearly than ever before so closely parallels my own faith walk over the years that I thought she had access to my thoughts and journals. In a writing stlye that is both conversational and solidly theological, she honestly chronicles her journey from cynicism to faith, confusion to clarity, and despair to hope. This book spoke to my heart and spirit in ways that few books do and is a must-read for both seeker's and those who have found God but lost their faith somewhere along the way.