The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski

About the book: 

One searcher's honest and fascinating journey to encounter God, love others, and discover his true self through a year of spiritual practices.

Frustrated and disillusioned with his life as a Christian, motivational speaker Michael Yankoski was determined to stop merely talking about living a life of faith and start experiencing it. The result was a year dedicated to engaging in spiritual practices, both ancient and modern, in a life-altering process that continues to this day. Whether contemplating an apple for an hour before tasting it (attentiveness), eating on $2.00 a day (simplicity) or writing simple letters of thanks (gratitude), Michael discovered a whole new depth through the intentional life.

Stirred on by the guiding voice of Father Solomon, a local monk, Yankoski's life is slowly transformed. Both entertaining and heart-wrenching, Yankoski's story will resonate with those who wish to deepen their own committed faith as well as those who are searching --- perhaps for the first time --- for their own authentic encounter with the Divine.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/BFhp6

About the author: 

Michael Yankoski is a writer, aspiring theologian, and urban homesteader who dreams of becoming a competent woodworker, musician, and sailor. He received his MA in theological studies at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, is a (novitate) Oblate of St. Benedict, and has authored four books. Michael grew up in Colorado, feels at home on the Pacific Coast, and currently resides in Indiana, where he and his wife are pursuing PhDs at the University of Notre Dame.



Margie's Comments: I signed up to do a review on The Sacred Year by Michael Yankoski because I, too, have felt the dissatisfaction the author felt before he made the decision to actually experience what living a life of faith truly meant. Many times I have felt like I'm missing something vital, something the fathers (and mothers) of the Christian faith experienced, but that I can't seem to grasp in our modern world without shutting off everything. This isn't a book that will gain a lot of rave reviews. I admire the author's courage to do something about the emptiness and frustration he felt. And I read with interest and even conviction the steps that he took to remedy the lack of intimacy he had experienced so far in his Christian faith. Some things I have implemented in my own faith-walk. Some I will consider for future reference. So do I recommend reading The Sacred Year? Yes. But be prepared to be challenged to step outside your modern "comfort zone," to set aside your preconceived notions about certain faith practices and to get to the "why" of how they were implemented in the first place. I especially enjoyed reading the Q&A with the author at the end of the book. I encourage you to maybe read it before you read the rest of the book. It helped me get past some of the more "difficult" portions of the book; it may help you, too.