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Practically Divine
There is no secret formula to experiencing the sacred in our lives--it just takes practice and practicality.
No matter where we are—on a walk in the woods, in a sacred building, or in a dusty refugee camp—signs of love abound. When we allow ourselves to embrace both ordinary and extraordinary experiences, we can feel the divine anywhere.
You’re invited to search this path with Becca Stevens, as she explores what it means to be practically divine. Woven throughout the narrative strands are poetry and rants, as well as ruminations on her mother’s wit and wisdom—and the passion she instilled in Becca for creating something from nothing.
Embracing the practically divine compels us to do something, anything, to share in the feast of love together. When we start from wherever we are, we can recognize the potential for humor, wonder, and freedom.
Experience is nine-tenths of love.
Standing in a geranium field, smelling dark soil fertilized by rabbit poop is different from reading about the healing properties of geraniums. Walking beside a woman in a refugee camp as she covers her baby’s face from the dry, red dust is different than imagining how hard it is for moms in camps.
Our senses transform information into holy compassion. When we open our hearts to it, we can experience the divine anywhere - like sacred breadcrumbs marking our path. This path is filled with humor, humility, and honesty.
We can all learn to live a life that’s practically divine
Redefining old lies and stories, to learn from the past Appreciating the gifts that come from imperfections or traumaUsing creativity to spark new revolutions Accepting the chaos of the unknown before us with courage Sharing in a feast of love, knowing there’s enough mercy and forgiveness
No matter where we are—on a walk in the woods, in a sacred building, or in a dusty refugee camp—signs of love abound. When we allow ourselves to embrace both ordinary and extraordinary experiences, we can feel the divine anywhere.
You’re invited to search this path with Becca Stevens, as she explores what it means to be practically divine. Woven throughout the narrative strands are poetry and rants, as well as ruminations on her mother’s wit and wisdom—and the passion she instilled in Becca for creating something from nothing.
Embracing the practically divine compels us to do something, anything, to share in the feast of love together. When we start from wherever we are, we can recognize the potential for humor, wonder, and freedom.
Experience is nine-tenths of love.
Standing in a geranium field, smelling dark soil fertilized by rabbit poop is different from reading about the healing properties of geraniums. Walking beside a woman in a refugee camp as she covers her baby’s face from the dry, red dust is different than imagining how hard it is for moms in camps.
Our senses transform information into holy compassion. When we open our hearts to it, we can experience the divine anywhere - like sacred breadcrumbs marking our path. This path is filled with humor, humility, and honesty.
We can all learn to live a life that’s practically divine
Redefining old lies and stories, to learn from the past Appreciating the gifts that come from imperfections or traumaUsing creativity to spark new revolutions Accepting the chaos of the unknown before us with courage Sharing in a feast of love, knowing there’s enough mercy and forgiveness
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2021
24 people are currently reading
1306 people want to read
About the author
Becca Stevens
22 books61 followersBecca Stevens is an author, speaker, priest, social entrepreneur, founder and president of Thistle Farms. After experiencing the death of her father and subsequent child abuse when she was 5, Becca longed to open a sanctuary for survivors offering a loving community. In 1997, five women who had experienced trafficking, violence, and addiction were welcomed home.
Twenty years later, the organization continues to welcome women with free residence hat provide housing, medical care, therapy and education for two years. Residents and graduates earn income through one of four social enterprises. The Global Market of Thistle Farms helps employ more than 1,800 women worldwide, and the national network has more than 40 sister communities.
Becca has been featured in the New York Times, on ABC World News and PR, was recently named a 2016 CNN Hero and a White House “Champion of Change." She was featured in the PBS documentary, A Path Appears, named Humanitarian of the Year by the Small Business Council of America and inducted into the Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame. Stevens attended the University of the South and Vanderbilt Divinity School. She has been conferred 2 honorary doctorates.
Twenty years later, the organization continues to welcome women with free residence hat provide housing, medical care, therapy and education for two years. Residents and graduates earn income through one of four social enterprises. The Global Market of Thistle Farms helps employ more than 1,800 women worldwide, and the national network has more than 40 sister communities.
Becca has been featured in the New York Times, on ABC World News and PR, was recently named a 2016 CNN Hero and a White House “Champion of Change." She was featured in the PBS documentary, A Path Appears, named Humanitarian of the Year by the Small Business Council of America and inducted into the Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame. Stevens attended the University of the South and Vanderbilt Divinity School. She has been conferred 2 honorary doctorates.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 16, 2021
I previously read and reviewed Love Heals by Becca Stevens so I was already familiar with this author. In Practically Divine, she invites readers to see the divine in everyday life. She shares how love can heal and how seeing the divine in our lives can help us to better connect and improve our lives and the lives around us, even in the midst of a pandemic, disagreements and strife. It was an uplifting book overall but there are places where she shares some stories about the abuse. While I didn’t find it triggering, some people might. One of the aspects that I like about this book is how down-to-earth and real the author is. There are a couple of minor cuss words too. The overall tone of the book is encouraging and uplifting in the midst of her realness.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through TLC tours. All opinions within this review are my own.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through TLC tours. All opinions within this review are my own.
August 18, 2021
What a beautifully practical book on finding the Divine in the ordinary. Although Becca Stevens' life is nothing even close to ordinary (seriously, Google her, the woman's a rockstar), she is unbelievably vulnerable and honest about coming to terms to what a real life looks like lived in, with all the brokenness alongside her. Highly recommended.
December 14, 2021
I am not much of a seeker. I pretty much found whatever it was I was looking for years back, and I wasn’t too impressed. At some point I just decided, more by osmosis than anything else, to live out the years with whatever I’d had when I arrived. Kind of like leaving the dance with the girl I’d brung.
This book, then, a compact combination of homily, confession, and cracker-barrel chat about extracting faith, purpose, and satisfaction from life’s quotidian joys and pains, is not my kind of book.
The author, however, is my kind of person.
By training Becca Stevens is an Episcopal priest, by inclination she is a woman on a mission of love and healing, and by practice she is the founder of a Nashville, Tenn.-based non-profit named Thistle Farms that embraces women victimized by abuse, addiction, and prostitution.
I met Stevens over dinner a couple of months ago in Oaxaca, Mexico, where she’d gone with a mutual friend to buy artisanal ceramics to sell on the Thistle Farms website (https://thistlefarms.org/). I knew nothing about her, but was completely taken by her presence, which is, in a word, all-encompassing. She fills whatever empty space you might have inside of you.
Later that night, I bought this book, her latest, and read it a page or two at time, a kind of appetizer for my daily writing, and allowed her home-spun but hard-earned wisdom to infuse and better my moods.
I am not a religious person. In fact, quite the opposite, so I needed to set aside my prejudices when Stevens seasoned her counsel with words like grace, sacred, and God. She does not proselytize, though. At most she nudges, using herself and the stories of the women survivors as examples.
Reading Practically Divine didn’t make me want to believe in God, but it did convince me to believe in goodness. And for that, I am grateful.
A few clips from the book:
* Experience is nine-tenths of love.
* Stop being mean.
* Too often we think the problem is too big for us to do anything. Or we think we are not up to the task.
* People are willing to change when staying the same is more painful.
* When passion intersects with the world’s need, our purpose is born.
This book, then, a compact combination of homily, confession, and cracker-barrel chat about extracting faith, purpose, and satisfaction from life’s quotidian joys and pains, is not my kind of book.
The author, however, is my kind of person.
By training Becca Stevens is an Episcopal priest, by inclination she is a woman on a mission of love and healing, and by practice she is the founder of a Nashville, Tenn.-based non-profit named Thistle Farms that embraces women victimized by abuse, addiction, and prostitution.
I met Stevens over dinner a couple of months ago in Oaxaca, Mexico, where she’d gone with a mutual friend to buy artisanal ceramics to sell on the Thistle Farms website (https://thistlefarms.org/). I knew nothing about her, but was completely taken by her presence, which is, in a word, all-encompassing. She fills whatever empty space you might have inside of you.
Later that night, I bought this book, her latest, and read it a page or two at time, a kind of appetizer for my daily writing, and allowed her home-spun but hard-earned wisdom to infuse and better my moods.
I am not a religious person. In fact, quite the opposite, so I needed to set aside my prejudices when Stevens seasoned her counsel with words like grace, sacred, and God. She does not proselytize, though. At most she nudges, using herself and the stories of the women survivors as examples.
Reading Practically Divine didn’t make me want to believe in God, but it did convince me to believe in goodness. And for that, I am grateful.
A few clips from the book:
* Experience is nine-tenths of love.
* Stop being mean.
* Too often we think the problem is too big for us to do anything. Or we think we are not up to the task.
* People are willing to change when staying the same is more painful.
* When passion intersects with the world’s need, our purpose is born.
March 17, 2022
Sometimes you read a particular book at just the right time. I certainly feel that way with this title. Becca Stevens is an incredible person who I have followed for years. This book felt different than her last book, Love Heals. This one feels raw as it begs readers to live more authentically. Stop caring what others are saying or doing. Do the thing that is in your heart. Reach out and connect with others--even when it is messy and hard. The unexpected chapters on grief felt like a balm. It's just really hard when your brain and your heart don't seem to be working at the same speed as the rest of the world. Stevens offers words of comfort that feel quite true to my heart right now. The poems sprinkled throughout the book kept the reading pace slow and intentional. The call to action was simple: be yourself and allow the possibility that creativity and connection with others can heal all kinds of hurt. It might be helpful for potential readers to know ahead of time that Stevens has spent her life helping women escape abuse and trafficking, and stories from her own as well as others' experiences with these difficult issues are woven throughout the book.
October 18, 2021
and in awe of the work Becca Stevens has done in the world as a priest and the founder of Thistle Farms, a ministry started in Nashville that creates opportunities for healing and hope for women survivors of assault, trauma, prostitution and drug abuse. This collection of essays which center on unique colloquialisms from Stevens' late mother invite us to consider where the divine is at work in our everyday lives and how we can be practically divine ourselves. This book is untethered in the best ways, giving us images and stories to dwell within, reminding us how profoundly miraculous it is to be human and what a gift it is to give and receive grace. I love this as a devotional guide, or just as a companion to living.
December 15, 2021
In Practically Divine by Becca Stevens, she goes into the woods to walk, think and find signs of love, but she also brainstorms in the bathtub! Alyssa and I walk almost every workday on our lunch break, we take this time to recharge.
This is an emotionally raw book with a lot of guidance on healing. I genuinely appreciate her compassion and felt a connection with her desire to help those in need. I am inspired by Becca Stevens and even though we try to keep our nonprofit small, we know we could be doing a lot more. I loved reading about the stories of healing and will probably reread this again soon.
I am so grateful to @tlcbooktours for this gifted copy! We added this to our Amazon Storefront!🧜🏼♀️🌺
This is an emotionally raw book with a lot of guidance on healing. I genuinely appreciate her compassion and felt a connection with her desire to help those in need. I am inspired by Becca Stevens and even though we try to keep our nonprofit small, we know we could be doing a lot more. I loved reading about the stories of healing and will probably reread this again soon.
I am so grateful to @tlcbooktours for this gifted copy! We added this to our Amazon Storefront!🧜🏼♀️🌺
February 16, 2025
I used this book as a morning devotional. Becca's life experiences are heartfelt and educational. Her work fighting injustice is profound. Being sexually abused at a very young age, Becca has made it her life's work to help women who live on the streets as prostitutes and/or homeless. Through her social enterprise, Thistle Farms, women can have a home, medical, social, psychological, and spiritual care for free. Afterwards, they are able to join the work force and begin their lives off the streets.
"Practically Divine" is a wellspring of knowledge. Seeing life through Becca's lens makes me want to increase my efforts of fighting injustices by sharing love. Love in all things.
A deeply, poignant book that applies to all of us.
"Practically Divine" is a wellspring of knowledge. Seeing life through Becca's lens makes me want to increase my efforts of fighting injustices by sharing love. Love in all things.
A deeply, poignant book that applies to all of us.
April 2, 2023
I picked up this book at a lending library in my neighborhood not really sure what to expect. It took a long time to read it all the way through bc it didn't pull me to pick it up everyday, I didn't feel like I had to know what bits of wisdom the author would offer next. I found the insights and stories to be a little disconnected at times as she jumped from one topic or example to the next, sometimes it was dizzying but honestly it made it easier to read whenever I did pick up the book. Overall it was a feel good book with reminders to see the practically divine, the goodness, and the love in everyday things...or actually to see it even through hardships like abuse, war, and a pandemic.
January 13, 2022
In my life, good books may give me something to think about; great books give me something to wrestle with. This book by Becca Stevens gave me much with which to wrestle, and beyond that her words planted seeds within me that will undoubtedly yield things for which I can be joyful and hopeful. While I read this book straight through, I highlighted a great deal of it and in hindsight I now see it as something to be taken in smaller pieces - each one (to borrow a theme from one chapter) a feast to be savored and shared.
November 13, 2022
Practically Divine by Becca Stevens tells the story of Thistle Farms and so many women who have been through abuse and trafficking. She also talks about her work with women in other countries who have less-than-ideal lives. The language and stories are real. They reflect real life among those who have been through abuse. Another real concept... Real love heals wounds. Read to see how Thistle Farms combines real love and creativity to help others regain their lives. If you have experienced abuse or care about those who have, you will benefit by reading this book.
September 16, 2021
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I am not a religious person, but this book did give me something to think about as I was reading through it. It is basically a book that helps find the divine in the ordinary. It is for practical love and looking to a divine being for inspirations. This makes one want to share that love and understand with everyone that they come in contact with. That is a good feeling.
December 7, 2021
I am in awe of Becca Stevens and everything she has done to lift women out of poverty, especially by founding Thistle Farms. This book shares stories of women who have suffered and overcome. The inspirational themes carried throughout the book are to find the Divine in the ordinary and love heals. With humor and heart, Becca shares her mom’s wisdom and applies it to her life. The takeaway message is that we can each use our own creativity to make a difference in our lives as well as others.
January 28, 2022
My favorite Becca book yet! While the overall messages were not explicitly about perfectionism, the theme of giving ourselves permission to be human (because, well, we are) and practicing self love along with love toward others were good medicine for turning my inner critic into an inner affirmer and encourager.
September 5, 2024
This book was used in a church study group and we certainly had plenty to discuss. Becca Stevens, the founder of Thistle Farms In Nashville 25 years ago is a force to behold. She has dedicated her life first to her wonderful family and to her priesthood and then to helping prostitutes rebuild their lives. What a story that’s encouraging and unforgettable!
March 21, 2022
I will be back to re-read these chapters for years to come. Much like "The Way of Tea and Justice", I could spend hours reflecting and learning from Thistle Farms as the book feels like a conversation over tea with Becca Stevens.
August 30, 2024
There were definitely wise anecdotes tucked between these pages, but the way the author jumped from one thought and story to another didn’t lend to a cohesive reading experience for me. I had a difficult time following along.
September 20, 2021
Thank you, Becca!
Encouraging and helpful book for survivors of trauma and abuse. Greatly appreciated her vulnerability in sharing of her personal story.
Encouraging and helpful book for survivors of trauma and abuse. Greatly appreciated her vulnerability in sharing of her personal story.
January 4, 2022
outstanding read and lessons
Outstanding lessons and examples of finding meaning and hope in all of life’s experiences - the bad and the good.
Outstanding lessons and examples of finding meaning and hope in all of life’s experiences - the bad and the good.
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February 24, 2022Some very helpful points, not only in where I've been but where I want to be.
September 4, 2022
I read this slowly for a book discussion group--one chapter a week. The work that Becca Stevens has done and continues to do is pretty amazing. I'd love to know more about Thistle Farms.
September 5, 2022
Her books aren’t pain free but they are beautiful
February 9, 2023
Thistle Farms is an amazing organization and Becca Stevens is an incredible activist. The book just felt kind of like a word salad.
January 19, 2024
My favorite part is “three moves”. Lessons in how to treasure and release. Beautifully written book on how to see the divine all around us.
December 20, 2024
I feel like I’ve read very few Christians who use arts and crafts to do good and spread love and Becca’s story and cause is so unique and special… definitely need to visit Thistle Farms!
December 29, 2022
Overcoming personal trauma from sexual abuse at the hands of a church elder as a child, Becca is providing healing work for many women like her at Thistle Farm. Her mother is her corner stone, so is Christ, but certainly not the corrupted church that eventually collapsed. The book of full of inspiration, memorable words. She often draw inspiration from Catholic Mystic tradition, emphasizing personal healing, but doesn’t attempt to fault in the theological short coming and church structural issue in the evangelical community.
August 14, 2023
I follow Becca Steven’s so I MILKED this book. Made it last with cookies on the side. I love it so much. I’m so thankful for her leadership. It’s a simple book with spiritual depth. I love it.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews