Margaret Silf (Wayfaring, One Hundred Wisdom Stories From Around the World) is a gifted and versatile Christian writer from England. In this paperback, she examines the down-to-earth spirituality that can ensue from practicing the exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. She believes that his devotional insights can lead to a very practical form of Christian discipleship. Silf observes: "For every moment is a moment in which we can either encounter the divine, or miss the opportunity. One of the great gifts of Ignatian spirituality is the signpost that directs our gaze to what is actually happening in the here and now, and bears the words: 'Look here!' Jesus becomes the model for our lives and we strive to follow in his path by becoming "perfectly attuned to God and to live true to that alignment." The author writes about the importance of story and imagination in the Ignatian path of everyday living. She gives examples of saturation prayer and working with "our desire to make God's dream come true." All of these practices become part of the process of becoming a spiritual companion, one who is able to share the Gospel values with others.
Silf concludes: "The most life-giving elements of our human existence are not the heart transplants or moon shots. They are the unnoticed conversations with the lonely ones; the listening ear we offer to the hurting ones; the word of affirmation that lifts the veil of fear. These are the things that lie well within the range of our personal currency."
