So here we are, nineteen months after my first post in the series on 25 books that influenced my life. I’ve described a wide range of books, from comics to textbooks, from classic novels to business books. Now it’s time for the top book on my list.
A lot of people expect the number one book to be the Bible. But at the very beginning, I said the Bible was not part of the list. Truth is, the Bible is a series of books, letters, songs and poetry. Besides, it’s such an obvious answer and I tend to dislike predictability.
So what is the #1 book to influence my life?
I picked up Richard Foster’s classic Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth in the mid-1980’s. I’ve probably read it over a dozen times since and I’m always challenged, informed and blessed by the insights Foster offers.
Each chapter of the book covers a different spiritual formation exercise. Prayer, study, confession, worship and many other topics are discussed. Foster explains how the practice of these disciplines creates spiritual formation in our hearts, minds, souls and bodies.
Simply written and filled with practical stories about his own life, Foster pulls from his Quaker heritage while tapping into multiple spiritual traditions. From Celtic to the Desert Fathers, from Catholic to Lutheran, the ideas come from a range of proven methods for spiritual formation.
The first time I read Celebration was an eye opener for this dyed-in-the-wool Baptist. My theological upbringing did not include such spiritual practices as meditation, fasting, solitude or even guidance. Such things were all new and a huge “aha” moment in discovering practices my soul longed for.
But there was also a lot to learn about the disciplines I had long practiced: prayer, study, confession and service were core parts of my life but were suddenly renewed by this book. It was like getting into a favorite old car that you hadn’t driven in years and remembering just how wonderful it was to drive.
I even purchased the books Foster recommended in the chapter on Study. Many were out of print, and of course this was long before the web, so it was tough to find them all. But eventually I did, and such classics as the The Journal of George Fox, The Confessions of St. Augustine, The Imitation of Christ, Table Talks, and The Practice of the Presence of God all deeply impacted my heart, mind and soul.
Through the years I’ve used Celebration multiple times for small group studies. Each time it was a tremendous series, blessing all of us in the group. However, I do remember skepticism from some who wondered what this odd Quaker was trying to teach us! Soon they were won over and now they embrace the book as much as I do.
Thirty years after being published, the book is still a classic worth reading. It’s never been more true that “the desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.”
How did this book influence my life? It opened my soul to a rich heritage of growing close to God. It widened my understanding of the traditions of my faith. It challenged me to practice disciplines that made me feel uncomfortable and even (at times) foolish. It inspired me to be a person of depth; not just intelligent or gifted or successful, but truly thoughtful, spiritual, and contemplative. To whatever degree I’ve attained those traits, I can give significant credit to the inspiration found in Celebration.
Over the years Richard Foster has established himself as one of the preiminent Christian thought leaders on spiritual formation. As founder of Renovare, his work and influence continue to impact millions. And his friendship with the late Dallas Willard has influenced millions more.
A few months ago I had the privilege to spend a few hours with Richard Foster in his cabin in the woods. It was a wonderful conversation about simplicity and wealth. As you might expect, my notepad was filled with quotes and ideas. He remains a force, with a hearty laugh and a quick wit.
Richard Foster and his simple yet proven ideas in Celebration of Discipline have deepened and enriched my spiritual walk. And for that reason it is #1 on my list of books that most influenced my life.
Well, it’s a been a fun exercise to create this list and explore why the books were so important to me. Now it’s on to the next project, whatever that might be. Thanks for reading!
Want to read more of my top 25? Here is the list thus far:
Celebration of Discipline – #1
The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings – #2
The Cost of Discipleship – #3
The Screwtape Letters – #4
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – #5
Only the Paranoid Survive – #6
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold – #7
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – #8
Truman – #9
Shantaram – #10
The Maltese Falcon – #11
The Shadow of the Wind – #12
Survey of the New Testament – #13
Calvin & Hobbes – #14
Celtic Daily Prayer – #15
Managing the Nonprofit Organization – #16
A Wrinkle in Time – #17
The Practice of the Presence of God – #18
Catch 22 – #19
The Tortilla Curtain – #20
The Kingdom of God is a Party – #21
Earthkeeping – #22
Reviving Ophelia – #23
The Grapes of Wrath – #24
Peanuts – #25