Fully Awake and Truly Alive

In a culture enthralled with technology, striving and& ; speed, people of many faith traditions and no faith& ; tradition long to slow down, pay attention and wake& ; up to the present moment. They want help in realizing& ; their hope that they can become more truly alive.& ; This engaging and highly readable book offers& ; spiritual seekers of all faiths guidance for the& ; journey. Sharing stories from her personal life as& ; a spiritual seeker and from her professional career& ; as a retreat leader, spiritual director and teacher,& ; Reverend Jane Vennard illustrates the joys and& ; frustrations of spiritual practice, offers insights from& ; various religious traditions, and provides immediate& ; invitations to practice. Accessible and practical, she& ; offers step-by-step exercises and meditations on& ; such practices as caring for the body, rest, silence,& ; solitude, letting go, community, hospitality, service& ; and living gratefully.& ; This valuable resource will serve spiritual seekers& ; of all interests as well as clergy, spiritual directors& ; and teachers in the field of religious studies and& ; spiritual formation. Each chapter includes suggestions& ; and guidelines for intentional practices, and& ; offers resources for further learning.