Present Over Perfect

Just Ok for me.

I am a very logical person, and I honestly couldn't understand this book. For eample, the following sentence:

“I . . . believed that I wasn't one of those delicate flower ladies who had to drench herself in silence and green juice in order to function.”

After reading this sentence three times, I just decided I wasn't going to understand it.

At other times, the author contradicts her own advice. For example, on page 91, she describes a time (long after her conversion) when her Spiritual Director tells her, “You're ready, I can sense it. You're ready to truly know Jesus.” On page 160, she warns against “allowing other people to determine your best choices,” and “abdicating authority for my own choices.” I would vehemently argue that allowing another person to convince you that you do not “truly” know Jesus is the most regrettable abdication of self possible!

Having said all that, I was astounded by the chapter “On Disappointing People.” There were some amazing ideas such as:

“You'll be free to love your work, because you're not using it as a sneaky way to be loved or approved of. You'll be free to love the things you give to people, because you're giving them freely, untangled from resentments and anger.”

So this is a book that was helpful, but I would hesitate to recommend due to some vague, flowery passages.