Becoming Bread: Embracing the Spiritual in the Everyday

by Gunilla Norris

Just as Gunilla Norris' previous book, Being Home, garnered accolades from such spiritual writers as Bishop Desmond M. Tutu, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Harold Kushner, Brother David Steindl-Rast, Madeline L'Engle, M. Scott Peck, and a host of others, so too will readers find in this companion book the insights that they seek in living each day as a prayer. In these powerful poems, designed around the place, process, and seasons of making and eating bread, the transformative power of love, in all its many faces, resides. In such meditations as Beginning, Place, Willingness, Gifts, Living, Discipline, Pain, Sharing, Savoring, and then into Beginning Again, the author leads us through a process of alchemy: we become the bread and we become the love transformed. Helpful and hopeful, lyrical and resonant, Becoming Bread will be embraced by mature women and men of all faiths, including: · retreatants and spiritual seekers. · lovers of exquisite poetry. · those who have suffered loss and want to find a way to understand. · those who embrace the holy in the daily. · those who use daily prayer and stillness as renewal. †

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Meditation, Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 1993

Reviews

[Sadelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such beautiful poetry/ prayers, all created and inspired by the theme of making bread. So many lovely metaphors. This is a book I'll return to again and again.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book for many years and have read at it, but not read the whole book. This is fairly sad since it is only 80 pages. However, the text is powerful and the reader needs to read slowly and carefully. Norris has a lot to say.

Each section of this meditation looks at a step in bread baking and relates it to loving. The transformations that bread goes through from mixing to dough to the oven are linked by Norris to the changes that love and relationships can bring to our lives. Norris has questions about loving others and loving God that she works through in this book. She has linked spiritual and physical nourishment in a way I had not encountered before.

I know I will revisit these 80 pages. Norris has given me things to consider and I want to read her words again. I know I have more to learn.

I recommend this book to spiritual seekers, to people who are trying to be truly present in their own lives and to those who might be planning a retreat. I can see real advantages to reading this and talking through the questions with others.

[Ruth Job Salamanca · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I bought the book because it was on sale and because the message that it wants to send out was exactly the homily that the priest delivered at the mass that I just attended but once I finished reading it, I found out that there's more to its surface than I thought. We should all be like salt to other people whether it be a friend or someone more special. The point is, we all need to forgive ourselves and others and be thankful for both the things that we have and don't have...


I think I should probably stop because I would be giving away my epiphanies and I want you to experience it for yourself and see that all things need God in their lives...

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are short, interconnected devotional readings and poetry centered on the act of baking bread. I've always felt a little sentimental about bread making anyway, as it seems to be one of the small ways we can connect to the experiences of our ancestors. This book was an enjoyable meditation that uses bread making as a metaphor for spiritual development. It's not extremely deep or complex. In fact, the ideas are almost commonplace. But it's beautifully written. And while it's explicitly Christian, many of the spiritual comparisons could probably appeal to non-Christians as well.

[Catherine Casey]

A beautifully written book on Eucharist. Very Meaningful.

[Daniel Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was quite interesting and helped me with my walk with God. The book was meant for people who have a connection with God become an example for how we are as a whole. We must be good leaders.

[Nancy Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit easier to connect, I suspect, if your'e comfortable in the kitchen. :-)

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eucharistic...in the most incarnational way. Started it, baked a loaf of bread, and finished it in the same day - quite an experience :)

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have an old edition, but never tire of rereading this classic. Inspiration on each page which always brings me closer to an inner peace that I can hold onto.