"Life itself is an exercise in learning to sing alleluia here in order to recognize the face of God hidden in the recesses of time. To deal with the meaning of alleluia in life means to deal with moments that do not feel like alleluia moments at all. But how is it possible to say alleluia to the parts of life that weigh us down, that drain our spirits dry, that seem to deserve anything but praise?" writes Joan Chittister, a Benedictine sister who has been a leading voice in spirituality for more than 30 years. Her writing partner in this exploration of the spiritual practice of gratitude is Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury and a writer, scholar, and teacher. These two Christians see alleluia as a call to reflection, as the basis of contemplation, and as an animating force in dealing with darkness and injustice. The book is divided into sections on: Discovering What We Are; Becoming Who We Are; and Growing into the Unknown.

Chittister starts with praise for both faith and doubt, the kind of wealth that results in reckless generosity and poverty that is not enslaved to engorgement. She celebrates differences as a sign of the Divine love of diversity and divisions which make individuals of us all. Williams chimes in with essays on sinners and saints. Of the latter, he takes his hat off to those who start "a chain reaction of new perception in the world." He finds encouragement in Genesis and Exodus as accounts of our origins and our yearning for freedom.

Chittister finds alleluias in our quests for growing into God, our commitment to peace, our hope for unity, our appreciation of the past, our suffering which moves us beyond "our smaller, less-developed selves," and our crises. In her examination of darkness, death, the future and God, Chittister keeps her heart open and her eyes on the prize of gratitude which enables us to bear all things and still lift our souls in praise of the Creator.