"The practice of finding often takes our breath away and brings tears to our eyes, for through these precious and unforeseen 'aha' moments we discover that the gift we receive is more cherished than the one we've been seeking. When we engage in finding, we recognize with humility and wonder that the universe contains possibilities beyond our power to imagine."
We can imagine Holly Whitcomb, a United Church of Christ minister and spiritual director, slowing down to notice the gifts in the beauties, the bounties, and the blessings of God which abound in and around her. As the director of Kettlewood Retreats, she leads retreats and spirituality events at churches, retreat centers, and conferences around the country.
We can imagine her embodying what freelance theologian Sam Keen calls "wonderosity." An accomplished jewelry maker and designer, she sees this craft as part and parcel of her ministry which also includes "art as meditation" adventures. Whitcomb plays classical guitar and is a Threshold Singer who sings to the dying in hospice settings. You can visit her website at www.KettlewoodRetreats.com.
In this inspirational and practical book, Whitcomb explores many aspects of the spiritual practice of finding, which she explains is an antidote to chronic seeking. It is "a doorway to gratitude and to the awareness of having received enough." (Not surprisingly, Wayne Muller has written the foreword.) She discusses the enchantments of savoring, saying blessings, owning yourself, welcoming the Spirit, and waking up to who you really are as the Divine Image of God.
The down-to-earth author provides many imaginative insights into Carly Simon's hit song "Anticipation," the emotional spaciousness of wonder, an experience of witnessing 400,000 bats turning the sky black, the challenges of letting friends know that they are not taken for granted, selfish view of comparison as the thief of happiness, and the emptiness of being preoccupied with FOMO—The Fear of Missing Out.
Whitcomb's essays are full of spunk and grace in equal measure. Then as a very welcome bonus, she includes spiritual practices to try and questions to ponder at the end of every chapter. At the end, she offers suggestions on how to use the book with a group as well as a Leader's Guide for a one-day retreat on the The Practice of Finding.
