The Contented Soul: The Art of Savoring Life

by Lisa Graham McMinn

Winner of a 2006 Chicago Book Clinic Award! Is your life characterized more by long, leisurely walks--or by frantic sprints to get the kids to school, rush to work, beat out other cars in traffic so you can pick the kids up on time and grab dinner before your seven o'clock meeting? Most of us are racing through life at dangerously high speeds, striving for a higher-paying job or a larger house, and volunteering for a hundred activities without ever...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830833358
• ISBN13: 9780830833351
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A breath of fresh air!

Love it! Grab a cup of tea at the end of the day and get refocused on what is really important. A GREAT read!

Clearly stated secrets of contentment

In her book, The Contented Soul: The Art of Savoring Life, Lisa Graham McMinn puts into words things that I have never been able to articulate as well as ideas that had not fully formed or even entered my mind. The insights help us to see that contentment lies not in circumstances, achievement or belongings, but in seeing God and the world around us through the eyes of our savior. Her practical concepts of walking gently and being the caretakes that God created us to be are seen side by side with nuggets of truth regarding submission to God and to restrictions on our lives in order to fully understand the contentment available through loving and being loved by the God of all creation. This book helped me to stop and rest and drink in the beauty all around me (even on a cold winter day - which used to be my concept of hell on earth since I grew up in a tropical climate). There is beauty and contentment in sadness, in difficulty and in all other situations in which we may find ourselves. If we continue to seek God and what He created us to be... there is contentment given freely no matter what the world may throw at us.

How to get more out of life

The author invites the reader to travel the road of life with her. On the journey, she draws from personal experiences and insights gained. Based on the author's own discoveries, the reader is invited to answer provocative questions that are designed to give understanding and promote contentment. Lisa Graham McMinn discloses her own faith, but she does so in a way that is non-judgmental. Readers are invited to accept the tenets the author has embraced, but the text is written in a manner that promotes choice without insistence. The truths exposed can easily be adapted to other faiths. Many concepts would be reasonable for consideration by non-believers as well. It is a book that has appeal to a wide audience. The writing is homespun and earthy. It has that inclusive "we" element that captivates the reader in his or her own thoughts as he or she relates to the roads walked down by McMinn. A history of meaningful relationships permeates and gives credence to the claims made for contented living. The influence of father and mother, the mutual tasking and love with a mate, the voice of three grown daughters, the interaction with friends, and the joyous companionship with a dog put flame on the candles for those of us seeking light and life. The complexity of life's innovation and opportunity is carefully weighed in the balance. Simple principles are suggested that empower the reader to take advantage of technological advances without getting inundated by them. The contented soul is not an insouciant being. If you want a book that encourages proactive choice to live joyously and productively, this one is a must read.