Wrestling with Grace: a spirituality for the rough edges of daily life

On a particularly trying Thursday afternoon, Robert Morris exclaimed in frustration and anger, "O God!" That day Morris realized that his exclamation could be turned into a prayer by taking a second breath, refocusing, and offering the situation to God. This simple situation is the basis for Wrestling with Grace, a book that explores Christian discipleship in the routine moments and ordinary emergencies of life. Wrestling with Grace offers new insights into the daily practice of Christian spirituality. Morris encourages readers to gain personal spiritual insight by looking at their first or reactive emotions -- anger, frustration, and sadness. Morris understands these reactive emotions as natural, but he persuades readers to move beyond that first reaction to cultivate a "second breath" prayer. This book takes readers on a personal journey to see the possibilities of grace. By discerning how to overcome obstacles with grace and learning to bless the undesirables in our lives, we open our spirits to deeper joy and love. Some of the obstacles Morris discusses include fear of God, anger directed toward others, depression, sexual enticement, busyness, affluence, and evil. Moving beyond these obstacles, Morris invites readers to let grace work in their lives by loving enemies, forgiving others, acting with justice, dealing with lust, and embracing peace. Writing with touches of humor, Morris offers challenging insights into the spiritual journey. Wrestling with Grace is a "how to" manual about loving yourself, others, the world around you, and God, especially on the "Thursday afternoons" of life, when the going gets tough.… (more)