Holy Is the Day: Living in the Gift of the Present

by Carolyn Weber

Life pulls us in many directions, sometimes even to the point of pulling our souls apart. We know rest and reflection are necessary for a healthy life—even Jesus took time to get away from the crowds, away from the demands of everyday life, to pray, to spend time with close friends, to sleep.

But when Carolyn Weber—emotionally and physically exhausted from managing her career as a college professor, writing her first book and parenting three children under the age of three—hears this truth from a friend, all she can think is: but who will do everything if I don't? And this sets her on a journey to find the still, small space in each day.

In these pages Carolyn reflects on the eternal beauty that lurks within the present. Drawing from literature, history and everyday life, Holy Is the Day is a collection of spiritual reflections that trace the way God's ever-renewing grace is a gift of the present. Opening it we find poignant stories of endurance, humility, compassion, remembrance and gratitude, as well a harrowing account of near-death experience. Carolyn gives us new eyes to receive the precious gift of the present and give it away to others.

Genres: Memoir, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Christian Living, Christian Non Fiction, Faith

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2013

About the author

Hi I'm Carolyn. I taught literature to undergrads for 15 years, but resigned my tenured position in a ginormous LEAP WITH FAITH (blogpost). When I am not enjoying time with husband and 4 spirited children under 8, I enjoy reading and writing. My previous (even bigger) "leap to faith" is detailed in my book SURPRISED BY OXFORD . You can download a FREE PDF of Ch.1

Reviews

[Frank Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Carolyn Weber and it is a worthy successor to her first volume: “Surprized by Oxford” which was one of the best books I have ever read. Like this previous book, “Holy is the Day” is an autobiographical reflection on her life. I received a letter via Goodreads.com offering me the opportunity to read the pre-published proofs of this new book, and immediately jumped on the opportunity. Everything about my response should baffle those who know me, since Carolyn Weber personifies most of what I avoid when reading. With the exception of Pride and Prejudice, which I only read to demonstrate my love for my daughter, I have avoided anything smelling of English literature since I have a historic dislike for long prose containing no action or intellectual content.

The author is an English Professor who delights in the very novels and poems that I have carefully avoided! Her prose is light, extensive and fluid, and does not have the high action content or information density that I am used to, yet I find myself completely absorbed in the words that she composes with her evident God-given gifts. She writes about real life, rather than what I have typically considered “important” such history, theology or science. The book begins and ends with child birth, a topic that I have avoided following the birth of my youngest child. Yet once again, the opening chapter had the suspense and excitement that was as gripping to me as the best mystery or fantasy novel.

This book also resonated with my soul. As a follower of Jesus teaching Physics in a University and managing too many research contracts, I could completely relate to the despair and depression that threatens due to the time pressure. Even her move to Canada felt remarkably similar to my move from California to Ireland. Actually, the many similarities were rather eerie! As with her first book, she had the ability to tug on all of my emotions and I routinely had to wipe the tears out of my eyes. The author’s ability to tell stories is exceptional. She fearlessly opens her heart through her pen providing a view into her life which is raw and very personal. All told the book was once again outstanding. Based on the Amazon ratings I would have given the book a 5/5, but the Goodreads scale is a bit harsher, and I would have liked to give it a 4.5/5. The main difference between this book and the first was the proportion of commentary (preaching?) surrounding the background story. The author momentarily started to bore me in the early chapters, by providing just too much of that “content-less” English prose that so frightens me. Thankfully, this trend was momentary and shortly thereafter I was once again absorbed into the book.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a fondness for spiritual memoirs, so I was thrilled to win this in the Goodreads giveaway. It was a thought-provoking and inspirational read. Weber covers a lot of life experiences -- giving birth to twins (a harrowing, nail-biting delivery), getting tenure, relocating to new places, discerning her professional path, and a surprise pregnancy -- and reflects on all of them through the lens of faith. There's lots of unpacking of Scripture here, but it's worked organically into the larger story, and it's beautifully done. Some of my favorite sections were her experience of having to draw on the help of people she barely knew when she became ill shortly after moving to a new town (a great reminder of what it means to truly live the values of the Gospel) and the description of her walk through the quiet beautiful neighborhoods as she ponders her desire for a real "home." If you're looking for a literate, well-written memoir of faith, this is a great choice.

[ladydusk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Own.

I pre-ordered Carolyn Weber's new book, Holy is the Day in June (Yay!). It came while we were on vacation (Boo!).

I opened it yesterday with some trepidation; how could it possibly stand up to her previous book, my favorite read from last year (2012): Surprised by Oxford. Is she going to be a one-hit wonder? The preface, alone, alleviated my fears.

What a beautiful, beautiful book. Weber explores living life in a daily way before God; in resting in his person; in letting him be in control; in taking advantage of his manna-like provisions of prayer, Bible, and fellowship. Her idea of carpe Deum instead of the more well-known carpe diem is inspired and inspiring.

We were incredibly busy over the last week, but finding moments to read - even only the last ten minutes before sleep - was worth it. I have folded pages, underlines, marks all over the book. I want to quote long passages, like here. I might start it all over again.

I was in the middle of one of Madeleine L'Engle's Crosswick Journals, The Irrational Season. A beautiful book by one of my favorite authors. I'll pick it back up again now that I've finished this. Weber's writing, I've said before, reminds me of L'Engle's, yet orthodox. What a joy to read!

Really, I just want you to read it.

Best book I read in 2013 (I know 2013 isn't over yet). How she's going to continue the trend into 2014, I don't know, but am impatiently waiting.

[Adam Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short Review: This is an advance reader copy, the official book is not out until October. I was a big fan of Weber's last book and I loved this one. It is more episodic and essay oriented and not as specifically oriented around a time period. The book opens and closes with discussion of the birth of her children (which as a expectant father I really identified with.)

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/holy-is-the-day-2/

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable autobiographical book. The author reflects on the trials and tribulations of her life using stories form the Scriptures to provide us with hope and comfort. As the author states "carpe Deum"

[Tabitha Merritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Provoking. Simple and poignant. This came at a prescient spot in life for me, what a gift.

[Raquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Carolyn Weber and I loved every piece of it. It’s a type of spiritual memoir; capturing the early days of motherhood, the journey of being a professor, and how to be present with God in all of it. It is no doubt that she is incredibly intelligent. Her writing widens my vocabulary haha. She beautifully incorporates Scripture and many poems and quotes from various authors. There are some parts of her story captured in this book that remain a mystery, she doesn’t always tell the reader what happened in the end. I like that about her, she’s vulnerable while also protecting the pieces of her story that are not intended for the world to know. It takes a good author to know what’s meant to be public and what should be kept in private. She isn’t an author who seeks to “have it all together.” Carolyn is honest about the messy parts of life, before and after coming to faith. I love her insight, perspective, and wisdom. There is much to learn from her and this book is just what my soul was craving at the start of a new year.

[Carol Johnson]

This is a sincere account of the difficulty of trusting God and maintaining inner stability while moving through major life transitions. I appreciate the author’s courage to write about faith given that she is entrenched in the academic world. I especially loved her book Surprised by Oxford.

[RAW · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a lot denser than her other ones with more reflection and observation than a story. Lots of things to ponder.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

How often have you've been in a conversation where you've felt like the person you were speaking with was distracted? It could be something they were anxious about or somewhere they needed to be next. Perhaps you were that person. So often in the breakneck pace of modern life, we are constantly tempted to live in the future.

Carolyn Weber's book, Holy is the Day, explores this temptation and the gift that living in the present, and being present to the Presence of God can be. She does this through a memoir style of writing, focusing around significant 'days' in her life over a several year period, beginning with the day she was sliced open without time for anesthetic for an emergency C-section during the delivery of one her twin boys--and experiences the presence of God as she is facing a situation that threatens her life and that of her unborn son.

Succeeding 'days' include the decision to write her conversion story while facing tenure consideration as an English professor, surviving an excruciating migraine with a "U-turn" friend, struggling with the harried life of a mom with three children under three and being reminded that "even Jesus went out on a boat" and so she also could take moments, walks, retreats to remember the Presence. We follow her and her husband on sabbatical, to a visiting faculty appointment and the "exclamation point" house, and the decision to leave faculty life to return to her Canadian home to care for parents and the day of the wonderful news that she was pregnant when physicians said this was impossible, and the day she learn of possible birth defects in her child. The book ends leaving us uninformed of the outcome but conscious of someone who is living in the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter, awaiting with hope the One who is Present to her.

The book is written by one who loves words, literary allusions, and the metaphorical use of language, and word play. I found that because of this, I needed to slow down to be present to this writing, to reflect on the metaphors and the poetry of MacDonald and Wordsworth and others. This is a book to be savored slowly and thoughtfully but doing so can take one into a place of being present to the present moment, and to the One whose Presence matters above all else.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn Weber

Holy Is the Day grabbed my attention and held it with lines like, “I couldn’t afford therapy, so I started writing.”

I love everything about Carolyn Weber’s writing.

The frankness with which she invites us to share her complicated life as a wife, mother, academic, driven career woman, damaged child, daughter of aging parents, beleaguered believer. The surprises as she leads us through the bends and twists in her spiritual journey. The fresh insights she brings to scriptural truths, from the perspective of someone who unexpectedly came to faith in Christ. And the marvelous turns of phrase from someone who loves literature and learning.

My copy of Holy Is the Day is dog-eared and underlined; yours will be too.

(I was given an Advance Reading Copy by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.)

—Wendy Elaine Nelles, writer & editor; co-founder of the national association of Canadian writers The Word Guild; co-editor of Hot Apple Cider and A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider inspirational anthologies

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote a post on my blog about my favorite 2013 reads. A commenter suggested this book. I procured a library copy before I realized that this was the author of Surprised By Oxford, a book I really enjoyed.

This book tells Weber's story of balancing academic life and faith in the midst of motherhood, writing and constant demands on her time. She learns to be vulnerable,deepen relationships, to 'seize God' and squirrel away times for retreat(or at least a few stolen moments).

Weber is a fantastic author and this is well crafted. The story is framed by two pregnancies. She describes the birth of her twins which began as an easy labor but ended with her on the operating table without anesthesia. The book ends with her pregnant with her and her husband Kent's fourth child--a pregnancy which the medical community recommends she aborts. In between is the stuff of life--postpartum depression, small joys, epiphanies, tension in living out faith in academic life, and God's surprising provision and direction.

Really great book!

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 review: this time around (hot on the heels of my Surprised by Oxford reread), I consciously tried to take this book as it was offered: a memoir of her crisis giving birth and the resultant efforts toward seeing and seeking God in whatever moment she was in, even the stupefying years of early motherhood. (The fatigue is real.) I enjoyed my time with it this time.

2015 review: I'm taking the "It was ok" two-star rating literally here. This was ok. I love Carolyn Weber's meaty, intellectual writing. But this book promised to be about seizing the present and was instead a series of memoir-ish essays that didn't hit on that at all, at least not in a concerted way. If my expectation had been set for a more meandering collection, I think I would have enjoyed this more. It's worth reading as a devotional on faith in the everyday, but not for those wanting help or understanding about how to see the divine in each moment. (I want that!)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. This is the memoir of a woman in academics who is also a mother, wife and Christian. She starts the book with her own crucifixion: her delivery of twins hits unexpected complications and a terrifying surgical experience ensues. Afterwards, Caro recovers, but also discovers that Christianity involves not only conversion but multiple re-conversions. She struggles with daily life, from sand kicked in her salad to big decisions. She's a little wordy by her own admission. Still this memoir of taking religion seriously and prayerfully reflecting on ups and downs provides a thoughtful exemplar of faith in the world.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir melds the author's new spiritual life with the rest of her daily routines. Life as a mom of three toddlers is enough to fill the pages of this tome. She proficiently combines jobs as a professor and author. Although a few of the chapters seem to be written for her peers in the academic world, she quickly returns and offers simple advice with memorable terminology. I loved her talk about U-Turn friends and more. I will reread this book to further grasp all that it has to offer. I'm still grateful that I was able to receive an early copy through GoodReads Thanks.

[Jean Camper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book! It has opened my eyes to take a look at where I am spiritually in my life. I really like how the scriptures were given to coincide with the things that we experience on a daily basis or just in life period. Sometimes I take things, people and life for granted and forget to give Thanks on a daily basis to the Man above. This book has put some things into perspective for me!! Glad I read it.

[Pilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Is The Day is absolutely breathtaking. Carolyn Weber writes exquisite. She is a master wordsmith. Her writing reminds me of C.S. Lewis and Frederick Buechner, both of whom are my favorite authors. Carolyn Weber is in a lane by herself as her words are poetic and meaningful.

To read the rest of this review, please visit http://www.ordinaryservant.com/?p=2176.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ordered this book on a whim, after encountering a blog mention about it, thinking it was going to be more about day-to-day life as a mother and the holiness in that act.
While it wasn't that, it was a pleasant memoir about faith. The huge takeaway, and one that I will continue to ponder is, "reading is a Trinitarian act"

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars feels like a poor rating but "it was okay" exactly describes how I feel about this book. Her wordiness and flowery language got in the way of her message which I thought was "living in the gift of the present".

As I flip back through the book, I did underline here and there. Her writing style just didn't resonate with me.

[Sarah Fowler Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, magnificent, wildly encouraging book. Just wonderful, and came just as I needed it.

"Grieving—whether it be for people (dead or still living), places, careers, an expectation gone awry or a hope seemingly lost—all tears open the way for Christ to come more complete into our lives, and for us, in turn, to come more completely into his presence."

"Replace carpe diem with carpe Deum and you move away from the ledge of self-absorption, from the temptation of falling into spiritual immaturity, epitomized by so many things in the sinful preference of self, but especially by the self-serving pleasure principle. In subtle contrast, carpe Deum grasps at God. It seeks righteousness. It touches the robe. It holds onto the Lord and refuses to let go."

"I was beginning to see that when we live in perpetual breaking of that very first and rudimentary commandment, the whole house of cards falls. And for good reason. God must be the Alpha and Omega of my desire if I am to truly live, or else my desires will consume me and I will die not only the Great Death, but countless little deaths landing like singing nettles on exposed skin, every hour of every day."

"Jesus stops the mouth of evil with his reply of prophecy fulfilled, promises kept. He did not stall at the Last Supper; he did not tarry at the tomb. Rather, he enacted his present in the ever-presence of grace. And, by extension, this is the power he has given us, every single moment of every single day (and night) that we live in him."

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, but not nearly as captivating as her first. Weber weaves her spiritual and physical walks through life so seamlessly/poetically that I would put this in the genre (that I made up) of devotional memoir. Although I didn’t agree with everything she had to say (she pulls from Catholic and Christian Mystic theology), there is a lot to be learned from Weber. If only we were all so aware of the story God was writing in each of our lives. The physical and spiritual are woven intimately together in reality and her book shows us that so well.

“God must be the Alpha and Omega or my desire if I am to truly live, or else my desires will consume me and I will die not only the Great Death, but countless little deaths landing like stinging nettles on exposed skin, every hour of every day...I desired that in longing for God first, and entrusting all my other longings to him, I would be fulfilled by an abundance of far greater than I could ever imagine, or wish for, on my own. There exists deep pleasure in coming to a true understanding the Lord’s grace as sufficient.”

[Nicole Magolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Looking at the parable of the poor widow who gave her last coins to the offering, I considered what it is to give God everything, to truly give him significant pieces of yourself until you have given him your all. To give so much that all that is left is to be with him. I think of how the world measures the depth of our giving by what we hand over, but Jesus measures it by what we hold on to.”

Carolyn Weber is a deep thinker and a brilliant writer. Her words, ponderings, and storytelling in this spiritual memoir flow with poetic lyricism. This is a book about Seizing God, and living in the present (and His presence). It's also about trauma, motherhood, writing & publishing, academia & literature. It's personal and honest and full of little revelations.

I gobbled this book up. It is full of wisdom and heartache and joy. I highly recommend it...

[Rachel L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Surprised by Oxford, but this one didn’t click as well for me. The back and forth from life experiences to spiritual thoughts was a little...distracting? I felt like the flow kept getting disrupted. I guess it’s more of a contemplative memoir and my reaction might have been a lot different had I read it on paper rather than my phone.

This contains a pretty intense, traumatic birth story. (Mom and babies survive though.). She also receives a diagnosis of significant problems with another pregnancy. So if you’re pregnant and prone to anxiety...fair warning.

[Kendall Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Weber's writing. This is definitely in the same style as "Surprised by Oxford," so I thoroughly enjoyed it. Weber manages to write about spirituality in everyday life in a way that is meaningful and compelling. I find most other attempts to do this end up being shallow and predictable, but not Weber.

This volume is much more a collection of narrative essays/reflections than even "Surprised by Oxford" was. My only complaint is that I would've liked more connection between the various chapters. Still an excellent work.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Part memoir, part spiritual reflection, it reminded me (in format) of Madeleine L'Engle's Crosswicks Journals, of which I am a big fan. As a Christian, I think it is almost impossible to write a memoir without spiritual reflection and have it be genuine - you cannot divorce what God is doing through the every day or trials from the circumstance itself.

This book takes us through Carolyn's process of making important life decisions and going through difficulty and what the Lord teaches her about Himself and herself through these situations.

[Bethany Schultz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Except for the exciting opening that follows Weber through her traumatic twins-birthing story, I was really not a huge fan of this. It seems that she defines “holy” a little differently and quite possibly less reverently than would be appropriate, and she quoted Richard Rohr, which is a little theologically sketchy. And it seemed to move pretty slowly. I guess it’s just not my style. It was hard for me to keep reading to finish it. But I did.

[Hope Garmon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm shocked I'm not giving this a higher rating because I love Carolyn Weber so! There are some especially beautiful passages I underlined, but as an overall read I found the poetic language distracting, and I couldn't commit to a chapter a day as was planned. I would HIGHLY recommend Surprised by Oxford and Sex in the City of God to anyone and everyone though!!

[Abbey Fagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Carolyn’s writing. It’s engaging, poetic, beautiful, real. This was a nice read and had some good reminders and new perspectives to think about. “Even Jesus went in the boat.” (Rest/alone time with the father) “People love us into undeserving understanding.” “Grief brings us more completely into his presence.”

[Ella Edelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally everything I want in a book: literary references, poetry, beautiful prose, an understanding of God that made my heart sing, and laden with the awareness of how He pervades everything when we follow Him.

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read Carolyn Weber you can't help but think she's very comfortable with a pen. Carolyn turns 'carpe diem' into 'carpe deum' . . . with compulsion and conviction! Can't wait for her next book!