Although I have written one devotional book and contributed to another, I have to admit that daily devotional resources have never truly been my thing. I could give you many excuses, of course—I can't find a devotional book I like, I have other books to read that are more "important," blah...blah...blah—but the bottom line is that I just never formed and committed myself to the habit. My sense is that many progressive Christians share a similar experience.
A series of devotional books from Augsburg Books could finally change that for me. The 40-Day Journey series features several of my favorite authors, as well as a few who I've intended to read at some point. Eight books have been released so far, with two more scheduled to come out late this year. First up for me: 40-Day Journey with Parker Palmer, as Palmer's book To Know as We are Known was my favorite Christian education text in seminary. After that, I'll pick up the one that features Joan Chittister , a Benedictine nun who writes powerfully about peace, justice, the church, and many other topics.
Other authors in the series include Martin Luther (no surprise, given Augsburg's Lutheran ties), Dietrich Bonhoeffer (a German theologian, killed in WWII), Kathleen Norris (one of the most important spirituality writers of our time), Julian of Norwich (a 14th-century English mystic), Madeleine L'Engle (the popular novelist), Gerald Manley Hopkins (a 19th-century English poet), Howard Thurman (a well-known African-American author and civil rights leader), and Maya Angelou (a popular poet and author). What an amazing list of progressive-friendly writers!
As for the books themselves, each day's material covers two pages. A short (2-3 paragraph) reading from one of the author's published works is followed by a scripture. The reader is asked to meditate in silence, then ponder a few good theological questions. A few verses from the Psalms, some questions for journaling (which frequently move the reader toward action), a prayer suggestion, and a closing short prayer are included in each day's reading. The books are clearly designed for those who love to journal, and I think those who take the time to journal on each day's questions and reading will clearly benefit from the effort. However, I think the book could work equally well as a devotional book for couples, in a spiritual formation setting, or even in a Sunday school class or small group.
A series like this is an excellent way to introduce your congregation to some of the best spiritual writers of our time. The length obviously makes the books appropriate for Lent, but they are perfect for any time of year. A 40-day journey can hardly do justice to the riches one will find in the full works by these authors, but it's certainly a sufficient amount of time to discover a new literary friend...and maybe even for someone like me to finally develop a regular daily devotional habit.
~ Tim Gossett