Book Review: The Grateful Heart

Last updated on: September 1, 2011 at 5:09 am by Greg Richardson

Book Review: The Grateful Heart 2011-09-01T05:09:32-08:00 Greg Richardson

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Wilkie Au and Noreen Cannon Au are people who get to the heart of things. They are people of deep emotional intelligence; not “touchy-feely,” it is more that they are in touch with the emotional parts of their lives. The way they write, and the way they live their lives, helps me understand and find my way through the labyrinth of my own heart.

Each of their books demonstrates their ability to get to the heart of serious research and analysis, and put their insights into tangible language that draws people closer to the heart of God. They translate their values and principles, along with deep theological truths, into engaging examples and stories which reflect and share their authentic vision. In addition, each chapter includes spiritual exercises and reflections which are ways to live their lessons in everyday practice.

The Grateful Heart is the latest addition to their body of excellent work. It is based in an understanding of gratefulness as a holistic path that integrates the complementary wisdom of ascetical and aesthetical approaches to faith and spirituality. They reach beyond their own strong foundations in Christian faith, the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola, and psychology to draw from other faith traditions and academic disciplines.

Each chapter develops an integrated aspect of gratitude: gratitude as a life-giving practice, gratitude as the echo of grace, gratitude is in the eye of the beholder, obstacles to gratitude, clearing the way to grateful living, gateways to gratitude, and ordinary mysticism and gratefulness. There are insights, ideas, and information that sparked my thinking and reflection in every chapter.

The authors describe Brother David Steindl-Rast’s distinction between thankfulness and gratefulness; they use examples from many sources, including both the scriptures and the Los Angeles Times; they discuss the role of our economy in fostering, or discouraging, gratitude; they give practical insight into how can begin to overcome the regrets and the resentments that stand in the way of our gratitude.

For myself, I have spent the most time re-reading and reflecting on the chapter about ordinary mysticism and gratefulness. I appreciate the way the chapter describes and explains mysticism, and relates that to gratitude. I resonate with the fact that God is present in all things, throughout our daily lives. The stories and examples in that chapter still fill my times of reflection.

The question at the heart of this book is how can we foster a disposition of gratitude that can be sustained throughout the seasons of our life? The Grateful Heart is an excellent place to begin that spiritual journey.

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