Fully Awake and Truly Alive: Spiritual Practices To Nurture Your Soul

by Jane E. Vennard, Rami M. Shapiro (Foreword)

Fulfill the reality that the glory of God is the human fully alive. "Reverend Vennard is fearlessly awake to the wild dance of life. Rather than sleeping through life, she awakens to it. Rather than escaping from reality, she embraces it. Rather than distracting herself with a life to come, she dares to live the life that is. And she wants you to do all this as well. Read this book. Live this book. Wake up."
―from the Foreword In a culture enthralled with technology, striving and speed, people of many faith traditions and no faith tradition long to slow down, pay attention and wake up to the present moment. They want help in realizing their hope that they can become more truly alive. This engaging and highly readable book offers you guidance for the journey. Sharing stories from her personal life as a spiritual seeker and from her professional career as a retreat leader, spiritual director and teacher, Reverend Jane Vennard illustrates the joys and frustrations of spiritual practice, offers insights from various religious traditions, and provides step-by-step exercises and meditations to Caring for the body • Rest • Silence Solitude • Letting go • Community • Hospitality • Service • Living gratefully

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Christianity, Biography, Spirituality

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2013

Reviews

[Harriett Milnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this for a Lenten study at church. Very good. She gives spiritual practices: rest, silence, solitude, letting go, hospitality, community, service. Gives examples from her life and includes "invitation to practice".

[Karen Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I thought it would be. I thought it would have a very heavy Christian message. And though Christianity is referred to frequently, so is Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religious beliefs and practices.
It’s really a book on Practice. Practicing the virtues and spiritual practices to be fully human and truly kind. Each chapter gives examples and exercises to “practice” achieving your inner humanness and sharing these “gifts” with others and throughout life. Loved it!!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Combination of personal stories, spiritual practices and space to practice those disciplines and make them your own

[Bethdwyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has great thoughts/ideas for spiritual growth.

[Roxi]

UMW Reading Program - "Spiritual Growth" Catagory

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is on the 2017 United Methodist Women's reading program list for the Spiritual Growth category. I read it for a class. I think it got better as it went along. I did see myself in her stories of spiritual practices. The last chapter about gratitude, humility and courage felt like a wrap up of this journey. I enjoyed the idea that we let go of goals, per se and our practices are to notice the unfolding of the beneficial qualities of God in our lives. In some ways, it is the opposite of a purpose driven life. Not completely. But we live our purpose in showing up in compassion and allowing God to be revealed to others through our presence and beyond what we can initially dream and construct.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about non-traditional spiritual disciplines that can be used by people who have faith in what I call The Mystery or people who are atheists or still others of a different religious tradition. The disciplines are simple and you can choose from the 9 Jane Vennard suggests and do it whenever you want to during the day. There is a lot of freedom in these exercises. You just have to want to be fully present when you are doing them and attentive to all aspects of your life. Fully awake.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine introduction - or review, or revival - of spiritual practices. With reflection questions and practice suggestions, this is a good book for individual or group study or for a faith development class.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novel simple everyday ideas for spiritual formation which can work for ANYBODY no matter their beliefs.