What the Land Already Knows: Winter's Sacred Days

by Phyllis Tickle

The author recollects her life of faith on the farm as she discusses the spiritual mysteries of Christmas, Advent, and the Epiphany, which occur during the winter months.

Genres: Christmas, Nonfiction, Memoir

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Phyllis Natalie Tickle was an American author and lecturer whose work focuses on spirituality and religion issues. After serving as a teacher, professor, and academic dean, Tickle entered the publishing industry, serving as the founding editor of the religion department at Publishers Weekly, before then becoming a popular writer. She is well known as a leading voice in the emergence church movement. She is perhaps best known for The Divine Hours series of books, published by Doubleday Press, and her book The Great Emergence- How Christianity Is Changing and Why. Tickle was a member of the Episcopal Church, where she was licensed as both a lector and a lay eucharistic minister. She has been widely quoted by many media outlets, including Newsweek, Time, Life, The New York Times, USA Today, CNN, C-SPAN, PBS, The History Channel, the BBC and VOA. It has been said that "Over the past generation, no one has written more deeply and spoken more widely about the contours of American faith and spirituality than Phyllis Tickle." A biography of Tickle, written by Jon M. Sweeney, was published in February 2018. Phyllis Tickle: A Life (Church Publishing, Inc), has been widely reviewed.

Reviews

[Christie Purifoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I didn't believe that books find you when you're ready for them, I would wish I'd read Phyllis Tickle's "The Farm in Lucy" books years ago. This one is short and sweet and wonderful during Advent/Christmas/Epiphany.

[Audrey Marcusen McMacken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read another of these and was lukewarm. This one though was just right sentimental, lovely, all the right Advent feels.

[SaraJane · Rating 3 out of 5]

pg. 50
"Gifting is a way to demonstrate love. It requires that we study another so intensely as to perceive his or her unspoken desires and meet them. It means to startle with the unexpected, the perfectly chosen. For our children we had always seen it as a way to form a thankful and satisfied adult, to create a readiness for generosity, the early habits of appreciation, and a sense of blessedness."

[D.J. Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A certain daughter of mine is going to give me a bad time about reading such a short book (and having it count on my number of books read), but whatever. Lol. One reader remarked on how books find us when we need them; this one did for me.

I thought a book The Longing for Home by Frederick Buechner was going to be that type of book. I had bought it because it was by Buechner. Oh my (review to come), this was nothing like any Buechner book I had read before (hang in there; I'll make the connection soon). When I first started reading it and discovered Buechner wrote it as he was turning 70, the coincidence seemed to be marvelous: I was turning 70! But, yikes, it was a very strange book to me. (I did, however, decide to journal through my 70th year.)

Along came Phyllis Tickle's What the Land Already Knows. Not only is it a lovely book about "Winter's Sacred Days", but also Tickle was 70 when she was writing it. These home stories, these Advent and Epiphany stories, these 70th year stories, these brought joy.

Would my mom like it? I think so! I think a younger daughter might like it as well. I thought about passing on my own copy, but I want it on my shelves. It is a quick wonderful read.

[Luke Brall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very nice Christian book one of my favorites and will always be one of my favorites in my heart my favorite quote in this book is in chapter 8 the last page and it just says the start of the Bible and that's just nice and I just ended there because it just felt so well achieving to reach that point and I feel like I learned a lot from this book and I feel like you will too so I think you should read this book

[Kim Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing book for people who live on and love farms, and who recognize the significance of our farm family in the cosmic scheme.

[Jennifer]

I didn't actually finish this book ...didn't keep my interest.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This slim volume reminds readers that religious time and earth time reflect one another. Each chapter moves you through the season of Advent into Christmas and ends at Epiphany. I found each anecdote and small nugget of truth to be an encouraging nod toward the wisdom of living. Phyllis Tickle is an ancestor whose voice I love listening to; it is grounding and calming in a society that often feels frenzied.

[Franceska · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Reading her memories and traditions with her family brought back my own with my grandparents my great grandmother the farms, the gardens, chicken coops, pigs etc and Christmas time. I have passed down a few to my own family as well and all of these things Lord I am grateful! :)

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an every year Advent read for me. I love this book and the other two in this series. In the beginning of the book the author invites you in with " the latchstring is out at The Farm In Lucy." I'm glad it is. I love to have a cuppa and read this inviting, thoughtful book.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this--beautifully written. In each chapter the author relates a memory and delicately pulls apart the layers of farm life, Christmas tradition, and connection to God. Each layer is beautiful in its own way. I think this will become a book I want to read every Christmas.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished all the essays in this book after oh, 9 years. They are lovely and poignant and inspiring.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully written little book of life and love and family. I guarantee you will cry more than once. This is a book everyone should have a their bedside. It is just lovely.