Soul Provider: Spiritual Steps to Limitless Love

by Edward L. Beck

This contemporary look at the seventh-century classic The Ladder of Divine Ascent brilliantly illuminates the enduring relevance of centuries-old spiritual concepts.

In The Ladder of Divine Ascent , Saint John Climacus described the thirty steps all seekers must take on the path to spiritual fulfillment. In Soul Provider, Edward L. Beck brings a fresh, modern sensibility to this classic work of Christian literature and its ideas, explaining how they relate to our lives today.

Using real-life stories and experiences and incorporating all of the major religious traditions, Beck shows how the thirty steps lead to a deeper understanding of the ideas that guide our journeys, provide for our souls, and draw us closer to God. Beginning each chapter with an illustrative anecdote, Beck explains the significance of each of the steps, discussing its importance in Christian tradition and offering thoughtful, inspiring ways to incorporate it into present-day spiritual journeys.

Soul Provider explores the connections between “old” spiritual notions and spirituality as it is practiced and expressed in modern culture. As Beck deftly weaves the past and the present, he reveals the true path to the limitless love we all desire.

Genres: Religion, Spirituality

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2007

Reviews

[David Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward L. Beck, "Soul Provider, Spiritual Steps to Limitless Love" is a beautifully written guide to inner peace. The steps that Mr. Beck gives for the climb to limitless love could be looked at as small easy steps that are easily obtainable, but each of the steps require a complete commitment by the climber to completely obtain the step.

Steps to limitless love are like walking along the beach in the sand, or counting marbles to obtain the perfect number as a child. I wish it was so easy. That walk on the beach can be easy or a real chore depending upon the foundation you walk like love. Or the perfect number of marbles for a child. Well, there isn't one for a child. However, if you say zero is the perfect number, and all things equal zero, nothing, at one time or another, then love is nothing but everything. And once we obtain love it easy to forget what one has, feeling like they have nothing, zero, when they have everything. Keep climbing the steps to limitless love.

Beck allows the reader to make the choice how many steps they are willing to take in their climb for limitless love. This personal guide to inner peace is not an easy journey to make, but following Beck's steps will lead the reader away from trudging through the dry sand or collecting more marbles than are possible to carry without spilling over. Beck has shown that obtaining limitless love is not an easy climb, but is certainly possible one step at a time.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this from the goodreads first read. It was very different from what I usually pick up but I found some great passages throughout the book. Very inspiring. I found myself using the book as a daily devotional and tried to apply the lessons taught to my everyday life.

[Adam Sequoyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

MPA ratings: PG for language

[David Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward L. Beck, "Soul Provider, Spiritual Steps to Limitless Love" is a beautifully written guide to inner peace. The steps that Mr. Beck gives for the climb to limitless love could be looked at as small easy steps that are easily obtainable, but each of the steps require a complete commitment by the climber to completely obtain the step.

Steps to limitless love are like walking along the beach in the sand, or counting marbles to obtain the perfect number as a child. I wish it was so easy. That walk on the beach can be easy or a real chore depending upon the foundation you walk like love. Or the perfect number of marbles for a child. Well, there isn't one for a child. However, if you say zero is the perfect number, and all things equal zero, nothing, at one time or another, then love is nothing but everything. And once we obtain love it easy to forget what one has, feeling like they have nothing, zero, when they have everything. Keep climbing the steps to limitless love.

Beck allows the reader to make the choice how many steps they are willing to take in their climb for limitless love. This personal guide to inner peace is not an easy journey to make, but following Beck's steps will lead the reader away from trudging through the dry sand or collecting more marbles than are possible to carry without spilling over. Beck has shown that obtaining limitless love is not an easy climb, but is certainly possible one step at a time.

David R. Gordon

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was referred to me by a friend at exactly the right time in my life, when I was facing the fact that I would never stop suffering from acid reflux until I give up caffeine and alcohol. But I had I felt it was a deprivation, especially to give up that aromatic, delicious one cup of organic, black coffee in the morning. And I'm one of those people who gets an immediate high from only one cup. I had been reading a chapter a night of Soul Provider, and sometime in the middle of last week something shifted for me -- instead of bemoaning the loss of something I loved, I was appreciating a different kind of "high," not only to be free of depending on something outside myself, but also the pleasure of simply BEING happy without props. Father Beck has a remarkable ability to bring spiritual concepts home to everyday life.

[Suzanne Manners · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes one on the 'climb'to the ultimate end, LOVE. The Beatles, quoted by Beck in the last chapter, find consensus with Climacus... "all you need is love." Negative traits, possessed by all human beings, are examined as Beck uses examples from real-life and the Bible to transform attitudes, allowing us to find peace and good will.

I thought about one statement made in the end and remembered hearing it before, in another translation by John Lennon.

Beck says, "The more I give it, the more I receive it, and the more of it there will be.

Lennon says: ♬and in the end the love you take
is equal to the love you make ♬

Read this book and then share with someone you love!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book quickly although it should really be read slowly with plenty of time for reflection and absorption. This is not my ordinary genre of choice but I was pleasantly surprised. Beck's style is not overbearing or screaming from a pulpit. He is easy to read and you become easily inspired. He is a great example of a priest who is still in tune with the world around him, the true struggles of his parish and his own imperfect self. I especially appreciated his references to other faiths and world religions. If you are ready for it and open to it, it will take you on a great adventure of finding answers to some very difficult questions.

[Terri Palermo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really kinda hesitant when I started this book, being as it's written by a priest and all. Nothing against Father Beck or anything; it's just the Catholic faith and I need to have a serious discussion.

But I worked through my initial hesitation and found an amazing journey within this book. Peppered liberally with thought-provoking quotations, the personal glimpses Father Beck shares are interesting, entertaining and moving...all at the same time. The "Questions for the Climb" brought me back to the point of the book for me: am I headed in the right direction? What can I do better? How can I improve?

This is a work-in-progress book for me.

[Justme · Rating 3 out of 5]

i received this books from a goodreads giveaway firstreads. it's good so far, i agree with the points he is making, though some of his examples i find too.... what's the word, silly? mundane? trite? ie the orphanage one. i'm on chapter 4. we'll see what i think as time goes on...


never finished this review. it was good. but i think i would have gotten a lot more out of it had I done it as a book study/bible study thing, as the chapters went to quickly and then i would forget what it was about...

[Sharrid Lejeine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Father Becks recount of St. Climacus climb. It is written in his usual casual style but still giving it the serious attention required with examples from his own life. Father Becks recount of personal struggles gives the reader comfort that they are not on this climb alone and it will be a lifelong journey. I would have given this book a 5 if he'd had included a short review chapter of all the levels at the end of the book.

[Melea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book for my Lenten devotion. It is based on the 30 Steps of Divine Ascent by Saint John Climacus. Each chapter is one habit to overcome or one trait to attain. At the end of each chapter there are questions that provoke the reader to reflection and prayer. I wasn't always pleased with myself, but that is the point.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally got all the way through it. At first I found the book very preachy and not what I was expecting from the description. I was expecting a critism on the ancient text not a how to apply it to your life today.

If you take this book and read it as a devotional I think you will find it rewarding in that aspect.

[Latharia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book very slowly, contemplating each step. I appreciated Beck's references to cultures & belief systems other than Catholicism & felt that his honesty & real-world experiences helped to make this book accessible to a wide audience. I can think of a few people who I am already confident will be interested in reading this book & possibly using Climacus' approach to spiritual developent.

[Inga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book, if you're looking for a self improvement for the soul kind of read. The author is a priest but doesn't come across as preachy. There are some biblical references, mostly Jesus, but also a lot of comparisons to other religions and outlooks, which I appreciated. Made me think about where I could use a little work as a person, in general.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that maybe reading Soul Provider in a book study would help get more from the book. I found the chapter topics and questions to be interesting, but sometimes I would get distracted and not take it as seriously as I maybe should have.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward Beck does a great job of explaining the principle and concepts in words and phrases that are easily undestood. Most of the concepts are from The Ladder of Divine Ascent. I recommend this book to anyone on a spiritual path or anyone asking why are we here?

[Olga · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm working through this book a chapter a day -- at least trying -- and answer the questions in the end of each chapter.

I'm on Exile.

[Valie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soul Provider: Spiritual Steps to Limitless Love By Edward L. Beck
An enjoyable read,a true reminder of what we not only want to to, but also need to do ~ to grow as a person.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this from a Goodreads giveaway.