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Morning Sun on White
This is a book about learning to live in the moment, a simple set of instructions for recognizing the sacredness in everyday things. On reading this book, Bill Moyers, the journalist and bestselling author, recognized these qualities and wrote, "Morning Sun on a White Piano challenges us to think again about how we spend our days, what truly matters."
There's a lot of talk these days about slowing down, simplifying, "seizing the day," but it isn't really happening. We all talk the talk, but the walk we walk is getting faster and faster, and we seem to be enjoying it less and less. Our problem is that, in searching for life, we pass it by.
Morning Sun on a White Piano is the perfect tonic for the freneticism of contemporary life. In twelve lucid, straightforward essays, Dr. Robin R. Meyers offers a brilliant guide to achieving the simple and sacramental life--not by planning the perfect vacation or dreaming of the perfect job, but by paying attention to what is holy, right under our books, music, letters, and children. Morning Sun on a White Piano is about recovering the "lost arts of living." It's about hearing again, in a culture that has gone deaf. It's about seeing again, in a culture that's blinded. It's about feeling again, in a world that overstimulates itself to the point of numbness. If simplifying our lives means singing the song, Morning Sun on a White Piano challenges us to learn the dance--step-by-step.
There's a lot of talk these days about slowing down, simplifying, "seizing the day," but it isn't really happening. We all talk the talk, but the walk we walk is getting faster and faster, and we seem to be enjoying it less and less. Our problem is that, in searching for life, we pass it by.
Morning Sun on a White Piano is the perfect tonic for the freneticism of contemporary life. In twelve lucid, straightforward essays, Dr. Robin R. Meyers offers a brilliant guide to achieving the simple and sacramental life--not by planning the perfect vacation or dreaming of the perfect job, but by paying attention to what is holy, right under our books, music, letters, and children. Morning Sun on a White Piano is about recovering the "lost arts of living." It's about hearing again, in a culture that has gone deaf. It's about seeing again, in a culture that's blinded. It's about feeling again, in a world that overstimulates itself to the point of numbness. If simplifying our lives means singing the song, Morning Sun on a White Piano challenges us to learn the dance--step-by-step.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
3 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Robin R. Meyers
8 books27 followersDr. Robin Meyers is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (UCC), a tenured professor in the philosophy department at Oklahoma City University, an author, a syndicated columnist, and an award-winning commentator for National Public Radio. He has been the Senior Minister of Mayflower Congregational UCC church of Oklahoma City, the fastest-growing UCC church in the Kansas-Oklahoma conference, since 1985.
Dr. Meyers was born in Oklahoma City, and grew up in Wichita, Kansas. After graduating from Wichita State University (1975), he received his MDiv from the Graduate Seminary of Phillips University (1979) and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey (1981). In 1991 he was awarded a PhD by the University of Oklahoma’s Communication Department, for his work in the area of persuasion and preaching.
Dr. Meyers is the author of five books. His first, With Ears to Hear: Preaching as Self-Persuasion (Pilgrim Press, 1993), is a textbook for preachers, and his second is a book on living a simpler and more sacramental existence, entitled Morning Sun on a White Piano: Simple Pleasures and the Sacramental Life (Doubleday, New York, 1998), which was endorsed by Bill Moyers. A third book, The Virtue in the Vice: Finding Seven Lively Virtues in the Seven Deadly Sins came out in August 2004 from H.C.I., endorsed by Desmond Tutu. A fourth book, Why the Christian Right Is Wrong: A Minister’s Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag, and Your Future (Jossey/Bass, San Francisco, 2006), expanded upon an antiwar speech he delivered at the University of Oklahoma that became an internet phenomenon, endorsed by Bill Moyers, Desmond Tutu, John Shelby Spong, and the late William Sloane Coffin Jr.
His fifth book, due out February 24, 2009, from Harper Collins, is entitled Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshipping Christ and Start Following Jesus (Harper One, 2009), endorsed by Desmond Tutu, Bill Moyers, Bishop John Shelby Spong, Dr. Fred B. Craddock, and Diana Butler Bass.
Dr. Meyers is a member of the Jesus Seminar, and a frequent preacher and speaker at church conferences and communication workshops across the country. He was twice a finalist for the pulpit of The Riverside Church, the Earl Preacher at the Earl Lectures in Berkeley in 2000, winner of the Angie Debo Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the ACLU, and was featured in an HBO documentary, The Execution of Wanda Jean, the story of the first woman executed in Oklahoma and of Dr. Meyers’s efforts to save her life. His Sunday morning sermon broadcast (KOKC AM 1520, 9:30 a.m.) reaches the largest listening audience of any religious broadcast in Oklahoma. He is married to Shawn Meyers, an Oklahoma City artist, and they are the parents of three children, Blue, 31, Chelsea, 28, and Cass, 15.
Dr. Meyers was born in Oklahoma City, and grew up in Wichita, Kansas. After graduating from Wichita State University (1975), he received his MDiv from the Graduate Seminary of Phillips University (1979) and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey (1981). In 1991 he was awarded a PhD by the University of Oklahoma’s Communication Department, for his work in the area of persuasion and preaching.
Dr. Meyers is the author of five books. His first, With Ears to Hear: Preaching as Self-Persuasion (Pilgrim Press, 1993), is a textbook for preachers, and his second is a book on living a simpler and more sacramental existence, entitled Morning Sun on a White Piano: Simple Pleasures and the Sacramental Life (Doubleday, New York, 1998), which was endorsed by Bill Moyers. A third book, The Virtue in the Vice: Finding Seven Lively Virtues in the Seven Deadly Sins came out in August 2004 from H.C.I., endorsed by Desmond Tutu. A fourth book, Why the Christian Right Is Wrong: A Minister’s Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag, and Your Future (Jossey/Bass, San Francisco, 2006), expanded upon an antiwar speech he delivered at the University of Oklahoma that became an internet phenomenon, endorsed by Bill Moyers, Desmond Tutu, John Shelby Spong, and the late William Sloane Coffin Jr.
His fifth book, due out February 24, 2009, from Harper Collins, is entitled Saving Jesus from the Church: How to Stop Worshipping Christ and Start Following Jesus (Harper One, 2009), endorsed by Desmond Tutu, Bill Moyers, Bishop John Shelby Spong, Dr. Fred B. Craddock, and Diana Butler Bass.
Dr. Meyers is a member of the Jesus Seminar, and a frequent preacher and speaker at church conferences and communication workshops across the country. He was twice a finalist for the pulpit of The Riverside Church, the Earl Preacher at the Earl Lectures in Berkeley in 2000, winner of the Angie Debo Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the ACLU, and was featured in an HBO documentary, The Execution of Wanda Jean, the story of the first woman executed in Oklahoma and of Dr. Meyers’s efforts to save her life. His Sunday morning sermon broadcast (KOKC AM 1520, 9:30 a.m.) reaches the largest listening audience of any religious broadcast in Oklahoma. He is married to Shawn Meyers, an Oklahoma City artist, and they are the parents of three children, Blue, 31, Chelsea, 28, and Cass, 15.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 9, 2015
Written by a UCC(I believe that is what we New Englanders know as the Congregational Church) minister in Oklahoma City soon after the bombing of a government building in the late 1990's, Morning Sun on a White Piano is still relevant and timely. Twelve essays give practical suggestions for simplifying life and viewing religion as "the long slow process of learning to be kind."
June 22, 2021
This was a random thrift find and I'm glad I paid a couple bucks for it. This is the kind of book I need when I'm in a reading slump (although I'm not currently in one lol). It's super easy to read and makes me feel inspired. The first few chapters were better for me than the rest of the book. But I think I needed those first few chapters right now so I'm glad I read it. This isn't a book I'd necessarily buy for a friend, but I would probably reread those chapters I enjoyed again.
February 1, 2025
Some nuggets. Easy devotion-type read of a chapter at a time. Though this is a 1998 publishing date (I found it at a thrift store), this last chapter on "Waiting and Hoping" ended on some important thoughts. Like, "Do not look past the richness of "so-called ordinary moments" in search of happiness on some distant shore." And "Hold fast to precious memories and project them into the future, savoring the next time you might enjoy those moments again." Lovely.
November 23, 2019
Book sale find. Loved it overall—simple and supportive and beautifully written. Christian-oriented/assuming, but still broadly applicable. I took off a star because of an undercurrent of personal judgement/jibing at the sped up lives of so many, rather than an understanding of the sociocultural context that shapes our lives.
November 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! Sacraments for a simple life summed it up well. Having been written before the onslaught of cell phones became a reality, I was surprised that the book is probably more timely today than it was when first published. I am a big fan of Dr. Meyers and this work reinforced that devotion.
June 20, 2025
Read this years ago and LOVED it. Just picking it up again for a little reset. I feel such peace and assurance reading about the ways to enrich your life by turning off the TV.I am very saddened by smart phone take over so I am finding that peace regarding phones too. Thrilled to see the author has a page on here... will be looking into his other books. Peace❤️
April 28, 2022
This book contains 12 essays whose goal is to lead the reader to a simpler and sacramental life by increasing their awareness of the world around them. It is an okay read, but one of many lead a simpler life writings.
July 2, 2019
Caron, Grottoes patron, June 2019, 4 stars:
Contemplative, helpful.
Contemplative, helpful.
September 19, 2021
Reflections on Intentional Living, from the viewpoint f a Christian minister.
October 8, 2011
My wife was reading this book when she asked me to read just one short chapter of it. At first glance the book didn't seem like something I would be interested in, but then I noticed that the chapter she was asking me to read was titled Eating Books: The Feast of Imagination. So, being a huge fan of books and reading, and seeing that the chapter was merely 6 pages long, I gave it a shot; and before I knew it I had read the entire book -- and I am really glad I did.
There are 12 chapters in this book. Each addresses problems that our complex society poses to all of us and simple ways that we can personally address those problems. For the most part nothing earth shattering is revealed here, but the author does manage to eloquently confirm many truths that most of us know deep down inside ourselves even though modern civilization seems to constantly steer us away from realizing these truths.
Some of the topics covered are the importance of conversation, music (especially live music), books and reading, owning pets, writing letters, giving gifts, cooking, self discipline and obedience, good parenting and home life, religion, and simply enjoying the here and now.
It is a short book -- 123 pages that I finished in exactly one day, but it is a book that I will want to keep handy just to read the appropriate chapter whenever I feel like modern society is turning me into something that I don't want to be.
There are 12 chapters in this book. Each addresses problems that our complex society poses to all of us and simple ways that we can personally address those problems. For the most part nothing earth shattering is revealed here, but the author does manage to eloquently confirm many truths that most of us know deep down inside ourselves even though modern civilization seems to constantly steer us away from realizing these truths.
Some of the topics covered are the importance of conversation, music (especially live music), books and reading, owning pets, writing letters, giving gifts, cooking, self discipline and obedience, good parenting and home life, religion, and simply enjoying the here and now.
It is a short book -- 123 pages that I finished in exactly one day, but it is a book that I will want to keep handy just to read the appropriate chapter whenever I feel like modern society is turning me into something that I don't want to be.
November 29, 2014
"There's a lot of talk these days about slowing down, simplifying, living in the moment, but it isn't really happening. We all talk the talk, but the walk we walk seems to be getting faster and faster, and we seem to be enjoying it less and less. Our problem is that, in search of life, we pass it by.
Morning Sun on a White Piano is the perfect tonic for the freneticism of contemporary life. In twelve lucid, straightforward essays, Dr. Robin Meyers offers a brilliant guide to achieving the simple and sacramental life by recognizing what is holy in the seemingly insignificant details of everyday life: Books. Music. Letters. Children.
Morning Sun on a White Piano is a book about finding joy in the present, about reclaiming the lost art of living, hearing again, in a culture that has gone deaf; seeing again, in a culture that's blinded; and feeling again, in a culture that overstimulates and numbs itself. If simplifying our lives means singing the song, Morning Sun on a White Piano challenges us to learn the dance.
Compact, accessible, gorgeously written, and beautifully designed, here is a book that is a perfect gift for anyone--especially ourselves."
~~back cover
A beautiful little book, charming, simple, comforting, practical, joyous.
Morning Sun on a White Piano is the perfect tonic for the freneticism of contemporary life. In twelve lucid, straightforward essays, Dr. Robin Meyers offers a brilliant guide to achieving the simple and sacramental life by recognizing what is holy in the seemingly insignificant details of everyday life: Books. Music. Letters. Children.
Morning Sun on a White Piano is a book about finding joy in the present, about reclaiming the lost art of living, hearing again, in a culture that has gone deaf; seeing again, in a culture that's blinded; and feeling again, in a culture that overstimulates and numbs itself. If simplifying our lives means singing the song, Morning Sun on a White Piano challenges us to learn the dance.
Compact, accessible, gorgeously written, and beautifully designed, here is a book that is a perfect gift for anyone--especially ourselves."
~~back cover
A beautiful little book, charming, simple, comforting, practical, joyous.
September 22, 2008
I borrowed this book from a friend and it is a super quick read. I think the author had really good points, and it's the type of book you could go back and read again and again and learn something new from each time (or see something in a different way). Not being a pet person, I don't agree with his "Have a pet chapter", nonetheless, for those who do have pets, I know they bring them much joy. They just don't bring me joy! :) I think anyone could read this book and gain something from it. It's not really "religious", but more "spiritual" in nature.
July 31, 2012
I'm afraid I'm rather a tough critic - only the more so as time goes by. So I will say that while I gave this book four stars, it certainly had its five star moments. Even up to the last line.
Looking over my book list, you'll see that I tend towards a regular return of reading books on Simplicity. Morning Sun on a White Piano is unique. It not only encourages simplicity in areas that truly matter, moving beyond the physicality of simplifying our lives - it's been written with a gentleness that envelopes its readers, like an arm of love coming round our shoulders.
Looking over my book list, you'll see that I tend towards a regular return of reading books on Simplicity. Morning Sun on a White Piano is unique. It not only encourages simplicity in areas that truly matter, moving beyond the physicality of simplifying our lives - it's been written with a gentleness that envelopes its readers, like an arm of love coming round our shoulders.
January 19, 2009
Short and sweet! Loved it!
April 2, 2010
reaffirms what I already knew. Good book.
August 23, 2010
This book was written by a UCC minister and I enjoyed what he had to say about life.
September 20, 2010
Short, easy to read chapters. I felt like it got a little preachy in places.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews