Review of The Little Book For Big Transformations (2nd Edition)
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Review of The Little Book For Big Transformations (2nd Edition)
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Little Book For Big Transformations (2nd Edition)" by Skip Jennings.]
The Little Book For Big Transformations by Skip Jennings is 31 Days of Practical Spiritual meditations. Each day contains a four-step theme in every essay. Step 1 is Inspiration. The essays open with inspirational quotes from influential spiritual leaders. Step 2 is Challenges. Subjects or challenges that provide growth opportunities are presented. Step 3 is Awakening. Skip shares personal experiences of transformation. Step 4 is Application. Affirmations are used to empower transformation. These 31 devotions were published in Agape International’s Inner Visions magazine.
The big take-away lesson of this book for me was the idea of developing a physical fitness routine inspired by spirituality. Throughout the book, Skip refers to his daily workouts as his “physical-spiritual practice.” We have a responsibility to control our appetites and care for our bodies because they are a gift from God. I started thinking about how amazing each part of the body is. Our eyes have an auto-focusing lens, our heart valves open and close about 36 million times a year, and our bodies self-heal cuts, bruises, and broken bones. A woman’s capacity for reproduction is another sacred gift.
One thing I especially liked about the book is the Universalist approach to transformations. God transcends all religions. It must have been very difficult for a gay man to grow up in the mainstream protestant church. It was inspiring to see how Agape International welcomed Skip without judgment. I saw a very humble man in the pages of this book with no trace of bitterness. I would have liked to hear more about growing up in the Baptist church, then moving to Mormonism, then to the Episcopal church, and finally to Agape International.
I also liked the idea that each person’s spiritual journey is an individual experience that cannot be compartmentalized into just those experiences that occur only in the context of the church. Unlike other devotional books, the pathway to transformation is not about finding God. It is more of a spiritual tool to help us find out where we are in the omnipresence of God.
One of my favorite quotes in the book was from Swami Satchitananda “Just as a little bird cracks open the shell and flies out, we fly out of this shell, the shell of the body. We call that death, but strictly speaking, death is nothing but a change of form.” I just lost my mother this year and that experience completely changed how I view death. I am certain that death is a transition to the next part of the journey, not the end.
There was nothing I didn’t like about the book. It is well-written and professionally edited. I only found a couple of typos in the forward section of the book. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy a daily bite-sized spiritual meditation. I am pleased to give this book an enthusiastic 4 out of 4 stars.
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The Little Book For Big Transformations (2nd Edition)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Little Book For Big Transformations by Skip Jennings is 31 Days of Practical Spiritual meditations. Each day contains a four-step theme in every essay. Step 1 is Inspiration. The essays open with inspirational quotes from influential spiritual leaders. Step 2 is Challenges. Subjects or challenges that provide growth opportunities are presented. Step 3 is Awakening. Skip shares personal experiences of transformation. Step 4 is Application. Affirmations are used to empower transformation. These 31 devotions were published in Agape International’s Inner Visions magazine.
The big take-away lesson of this book for me was the idea of developing a physical fitness routine inspired by spirituality. Throughout the book, Skip refers to his daily workouts as his “physical-spiritual practice.” We have a responsibility to control our appetites and care for our bodies because they are a gift from God. I started thinking about how amazing each part of the body is. Our eyes have an auto-focusing lens, our heart valves open and close about 36 million times a year, and our bodies self-heal cuts, bruises, and broken bones. A woman’s capacity for reproduction is another sacred gift.
One thing I especially liked about the book is the Universalist approach to transformations. God transcends all religions. It must have been very difficult for a gay man to grow up in the mainstream protestant church. It was inspiring to see how Agape International welcomed Skip without judgment. I saw a very humble man in the pages of this book with no trace of bitterness. I would have liked to hear more about growing up in the Baptist church, then moving to Mormonism, then to the Episcopal church, and finally to Agape International.
I also liked the idea that each person’s spiritual journey is an individual experience that cannot be compartmentalized into just those experiences that occur only in the context of the church. Unlike other devotional books, the pathway to transformation is not about finding God. It is more of a spiritual tool to help us find out where we are in the omnipresence of God.
One of my favorite quotes in the book was from Swami Satchitananda “Just as a little bird cracks open the shell and flies out, we fly out of this shell, the shell of the body. We call that death, but strictly speaking, death is nothing but a change of form.” I just lost my mother this year and that experience completely changed how I view death. I am certain that death is a transition to the next part of the journey, not the end.
There was nothing I didn’t like about the book. It is well-written and professionally edited. I only found a couple of typos in the forward section of the book. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy a daily bite-sized spiritual meditation. I am pleased to give this book an enthusiastic 4 out of 4 stars.
******
The Little Book For Big Transformations (2nd Edition)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Contagion Domination by William Nisol
