Unexpected Gifts: Discovering the Way of Community

by Christopher L. Heuertz, Richard Rohr (Foreword)

In this heartfelt and thoughtful book, Christopher Heuertz writes of the dangers of isolation, the challenges we face when we join together and the struggles and joys that emerge from genuine community bonding.“Ironically, as much as we yearn for deep friendships and meaningful communities, many of us seem to be unable to find our way into them. Even if we know we’re made for community, finding one and staying there seems almost impossible. Though we hate to admit it, if we stay long enough in any relationship or set of friendships, we will experience failure, doubt, burnout, loneliness, transitions, a loss of self, betrayal, frustration, a sense of entitlement, grief, and weariness. Yet it’s these painful community experiences, these tensions we struggle to navigate, that hold surprising gifts.” —FROM THE PREFACE IN A STRIKINGLY confessional tone and vividly illustrated through story, Unexpected Gifts names eleven inevitable challenges that all friendships, relationships, and communities experience if they stay together long enough. Rather than allowing these challenges to become excuses to leave, Chris Heuertz suggests that things like betrayal, transitions, failure, loss of identity, entitlement, and doubt may actually be invitations to stay. And if we stay, these challenges can become unexpected gifts. *** Betrayal, failure, loss of identity, doubt. If your relationships have suffered from any of these pitfalls, this book will show you that staying together can create something more—even something beautiful. IN THIS HEARTFELT and thoughtful book, Christopher Heuertz writes of the dangers of isolation, the challenges we face when we join together, and the struggles and joys that emerge from genuine community bonding. Whether readers are forming a new community, searching for deeper community, or participating in a longtime community, they will find inspiration, caution, guidance, and encouragement as they discover the beauty of pressing in to the ambiguities of growing relationships in this tender and honest testimony about how we are woven together by grace.

Genres: Spirituality, Faith, Christian, Theology, Religion, Nonfiction

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2012

About the author

Christopher L. Heuertz is an activist, author, visionary and public speaker, who has traveled with his wife, Phileena, through nearly seventy countries working with the most vulnerable of the world’s poor. Chris has led the Word Made Flesh community as the International Executive Director since 1996. He and Phileena reside in Omaha, Nebraska.

Reviews

[Bogdan Chelariu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have lived in community for quite a number of years. I have loved my community and I have experienced the need to be away from it. As Chris Heuertz says, I have discovered that the things that make us leave are the very things that may have the greatest potential to make us want to stay.
This book speaks to my heart in a very special way as at some point in my life I actually chose to be away from my community for a while. It was a painful decision. It was a healthy decision for that moment in my life. It was later that I discovered that this creative absence actually brought healing to me and to my community. Chris talks about growing in his book. It’s probably the most painful process we can be in at some point. Although we never cease to change, growth is not a given. One has to be willing to love. To love beyond love. Because love, as Chris puts it, “love - love of people” is the safest way to nurture friendships and community”.
I have learned and experienced things on my own. I have enjoyed walking alone on some parts of my journey yet walking alongside my community marked the most significant moments of my life.
I happen to know Chris Heuertz. I have learned from him and have come to respect him greatly. His input shaped the community I am honored to be a part of and for that I will for ever be grateful. To read his books is to look into his soul which he so generously opens before his readers.
This book is a must for anyone who attempts to live in community.
Thank you Chris.

Cristina from Romania

[Josiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was particularly relevant to me, living as I am in a like-minded community of people striving together for a common (or at least a shared) purpose. I especially liked Heuertz's chapters discussing chemistry and gratitude, as I feel those are especially under-discussed items, at least in the communities that I have been a part of.

[Annie Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and challenging! Christopher Heuertz takes you out of your comfort zone in a gentle yet purposeful way, causing you to reassess your values, your intentionality, and purposeful living. I plan to reread this many times!

[Kiersten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Took my time reading it so I could let it sink in...the beauty of communities, even in their brokenness.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Community” is a pretty grand topic and the guy who wrote this is clearly extroverted and has had a pretty unique experience in community. This book covers a lot of ground and I think any one of the chapters could be it’s own book. At times I felt like an outsider looking in. At other times, I felt personally challenged and like I was receiving therapy. Good book for discussion.

[LaVon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one but I loved The Sacred Enneagram one better. :)

[Sam McBratney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm trying to read as much as possible about Christian community and this was a fascinating read. Very personal, a bit American, but real insight into leading a community. Thoroughly recommend.

[Timothy Hoiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Heuertz’s new book Unexpected Gifts is about community, and since Bo White (@bomwhite) and I read it around the same time, he asked if I’d like to review it together.

The first half of the review, presented in interview form, appeared on his blog: http://www.bomwhite.com/blog/unexpect...

The second half is here: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2013/0...

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book. It was such an enjoyable and engaging read, I just as easily unwound to this at the end of a long day or over a weekend as I would have with a novel. It was also incredibly thought-provoking, both convicting and encouraging, addressing common issues and thinking outside the box while strongly grounded in Biblical principle. I would highly recommend it!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I connected deeply with some parts of this book and not at all with others. Just when I would get excited about one chapter, the next would drag on. I'm not sure why I responded this way. I would give the parts that really challenged me five stars and give the rest of the book three.

[Thomas Tijerina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love his valuable insight on friendship and community. I would have given it 5 stars but it seemed to jump around a bit much for me and perhaps lost the focus here and there, but then again, I think it is because this man has so many interesting stories to tell.

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris does it again. Despite a few bumpier chapters in the middle, it’s a fascinating book that takes an honest and raw look at what being in community can be in both its good and bad aspects.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impactful book as we try to build community along Monroe Road. Several great point to share.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The section on doubt was very freeing and timely for me.