Finding Spiritual Whitespace Book Review

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[box] This post is part of the “Finding Spiritual Whitespace Blog Tour” which I am a part of, along with a group of soulful, journeying kindreds. To learn more and join us, CLICK HERE! [/box]

I’m a “judge a book by it’s cover” type of girl.  I wish it weren’t true, but it is.  That is disappointing for the wonderful books that could change my life that I will never purchase or read.  Finding Spiritual Whitespace caught my attention with the title.  Particularly the subtitle “Awakening your soul to rest”.

Who doesn’t ache for rest?  We women need rest and rarely get any.  Rest is something I have always struggled with.  I’m a list-maker, box-checking, get it done kind of spirit.  Once it’s all done, I’ll rest.  The problem?  It’s never all done.  A completed checklist is an illusive dream.  It’s a lie.

When I discovered Bonnie’s book, I knew I needed to read the words inside that beautiful cover.  But, seriously, could I really add one more thing to my to-do list?  If I sign up for this blog tour, I’m just adding to my list, putting rest a little further away.  Right?  Something continued whispering.  Read this.

I met a new friend at the writers conference I recently attended that told me she reads in every nook and crannie of her day.  In the shower even. I’m not kidding.  Fascinating.  I’ll try a version of this productivity.  I’m always up for new ways to pack in one more thing.  While my boys busied about their morning chores, I snuck away to shower and start in on the 30 minute drama that is blow-drying my hair.

Chapter 1 – “I was a little girl, standing in the middle of the broken driveway sloping down into the busy street………I stood there, heart pounding in my ears, hot tears flooding my eyes.  I cried with my mouth open, stuck in a silent howl unable to make it’s way out of my body.”  Bonnie Gray- page 25

The smell of burnt hair snapped me into reality.

Bonnie just described me.  I have a very similar memory.  A similar story.  My mind began to race.

“There was no one to comfort me.  No one to tell me why…..No one to hold me after…..Not that day.  Not that night…..And that is how I learned to take care of me.” Bonnie Gray – page 25

I couldn’t stop turning the pages.  This book is meant to be a slow read.  One that you take nibbles of.  But I couldn’t.  I had to see what God had for me in these words.  He has a message for me through the gift of words He has placed inside this author.  I stopped at the end of Chapter 1.

These words need to simmer in my soul in order to awaken it to the rest it aches for.

Is this book for you?  Possibly.  Very likely it could be just what your soul is in need of right this minute.  Summer is a good time for a soul-soaking read.  Linger long over her words and be blessed.

[box] Bonnie Gray is the writer behind Faith Barista.com who wrote a book about her inspiring, heart-breaking journey to find rest, which garnered Publisher’s Weekly starred review. I’m taking the journey to find rest through this guidebook and invite you to read it too. You can get a copy HERE.[/box]

2 replies
  1. Lisa notes
    Lisa notes says:

    Who doesn’t ache for rest? …I’m a list-maker, box-checking, get it done kind of spirit. Once it’s all done, I’ll rest. The problem? It’s never all done.”

    Yep. Just finished making my list for the day. I so want to build in more margin around each activity, but in order to do all the things I want to do today, I don’t have much room left for margin. I try to find rest in the midst of the activity itself, which is good, but I just need to release some of the items altogether (or defer to another day) to find true peace.

    I enjoyed Bonnie’s book, too. I pray it’ll help lots of us.

  2. krista
    krista says:

    Making lists all.the.time! It’s so trustrating when I can’t check every item off! I guess that’s where I need to allow God to direct my steps each day.
    I read sometimes when I’m attempting the hair do and like you, it does take a while the drying, the straightening, the slight tease at the crown…. 🙂
    I feel blessed to be amongst such a beautiful group of ladies as we cheer Bonnie (and her book) on!

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