The Sacred Romance / Desire

by John Eldredge

Genres: Religion, Spirituality

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2010

About the author

John Eldredge is an American author, counselor, and lecturer on Christianity. He is known for his best-selling book Wild at Heart.

Reviews

[Madison Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what my heart needed to read in this season. So good.

[George Stoimenov · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my personal journey of inner awakening to the beauty of life (and my own untapped, dormant potential that longs to be fulfilled in it), these two books — Desire and Sacred Romance — have played a huge, irreplaceable part. Many people put the cart before the horse and attempt to find God with hearts that are only partially open to life, vast areas of them buried under heartbreak, disappointment and the results of the loss that comes with even the best life as we get older...

You cannot find God without your heart; this is what you must seek with!

We must have our whole heart re-awakened, re-open, and in turn re-deemed; then and only then will our spiritual life become tangible, real, and the source of Life it was always meant to be.

From this viewpoint, the following makes perfect sense:

“The greatest human tragedy is to give up the search. Nothing is of greater importance than the life of our deep heart. To lose heart is to lose everything.”

These two books have caused more tears to be shed and more old, sealed doors to be reopened in me than any other writing. They have awakened old, buried longing and old childhood desires — not in order for me to feel pain (which I did, of course) but in order for me to be 'cut' so that I can be, in time, healed.

If you don't want pain, stay comfortable, stay safe, stay with the familiar. If you want truth and if you want to be fully alive, read these two books.

Thank you, John!

[Matthew K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening and refreshingly honest, this book is a guide to the deepest desires of the human heart and the options available to us for dealing with them, living in a world in which those desires simply cannot be met in any kind of enduring way. As Eldredge writes, desire creates a dilemma for us: "we can be satisfied; we just can't be sated." Under the circumstances, dare we desire at all? The path he proposes for us is neither a Stoic denial of desire (which leads to despair) nor a hedonist indulgence in what scraps of pleasure we can find (which leads to addiction), but a journey through life with both eyes fixed on Heaven in which we keep our hearts alive and hungry for the coming kingdom.

Although not himself a Catholic, Eldredge draws often on the insights of the Catholic saints and spiritual tradition, including a memorable reflection on the Rule of St. Benedict in the final chapter. Other key influences whose quotes pepper his pages include George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and Pascal's Pensées. At times Eldredge's own natural, conversational style rises to lyrical heights as he describes moments of God's inbreaking presence in the great outdoors of the American West. Nothing in this book is contrary to the Catholic faith and much is worthy of consideration if we desire the adventure of living with hearts fully "alive and thirsty."

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find it hard to wrangle my desires. Many of them seem to wander off into the woods of obscurity, ambiguity, or obvious sin. John Eldredge makes a case for the human heart, arguing that it gets a bad rap by church leaders. We are desiring beings, and though sin can be a part of a desire, that does not mean you need to kill your desires. God gives us the desires of our hearts. What does that truly mean?

This is a good introspective read, biblically based and conviction provoking. Though I'm sure it has flaws, I am not prepared currently to write an in-depth review with areas of improvement. Maybe down the road I will return to this review.

All in all, a worthwhile read, and I plan on rereading it down the road.

[C Nivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the very first book that I decided to listen to instead of reading. The audio was very helpful because the entire book was read so smoothly and soothing, it was like listening to poetry being read aloud. The author shared the stories with a graceful rhythm that was soft and relaxing. While the story reminds us of our desires and when they will be ultimately fulfilled, the author shares the truth of sorrow, grief and loss as part of the hopeful journey.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautuful! And deep. Worth reading again and must share!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable and enlightening read on the controlling desires and not to get caught up in the culture of serving ones own self interests.

[Ramon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like many Christian books, it could be shorter. The beginning was good and the wrap up. But the middle was alot of rehash and reflection of stuff.

[Isaiah (aka Isaiah Ward) Herrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book!

[Marsha Burdick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this book after reading "The Sacred Romance" and I discovered new things. We really do have to remember what God has done for us so that we won't get discouraged.