Book Review: “Pausing to Examine ‘Sacred Pauses’”

By Menno-lite

This March, Frank Viola interviewed the author of a new book called Sacred Pauses: Spiritual Practices for Personal Renewal published by Herald Press(1). In the interview, April Yamasaki, lead pastor of Emmanuel Mennonite Church (B.C., Canada), indicated that her views of finding God’s presence are drawn from sources like Mother Teresa(2), Henri Nouwen, and the 14th century Cloud of Unknowing.

She also draws from and the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, even recommending a helpful introduction to Ignatian Spirituality(3), although Yamasaki’s book is more like a new kind of consumer friendly Jesuit spirituality.

One of the classic models for retreat is The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, which is organized into four weeks to be completed along with a spiritual director. But even Saint Ignatius seemed to realize that was not possible or practical for everyone.”
– page 21, Chapter 1, Sacred Pauses

Sacred Pauses unfolds to give readers an easier, do it yourself at home recipe for part time retreat, Brother Lawrence style (page 22). Yamasaki draws from many other extra biblical sources to find ways of making sacred pauses with God, from recommending icons to “allow God to create that sacred space in you” (p 24), to Thomas Merton and Richard Foster (p 180). Click here to continue reading.

Other Articles From Menno-lite:

Mennonites and Sustainable Development

On Rob Bell, Hell, and Mennonites

Disappointment in the MB Herald – Mennonites Going Contemplative

 

 

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