Pilgrim Heart: The Way of Jesus in Everyday Life

Darryl Tippens
Leafwood Publishers (2006)
ISBN 0976779072
Reviewed by Linda Benninghoff for Reader Views (2/07)

As the author says in the last chapter of "Pilgrim Heart," the conversion to faith is just the beginning of the religious journey, and seeking God is a life-long process. This book will make an excellent companion to the seeker as his or her faith grows.

The book discusses friendship, suffering, doubt, the state of being a sinner, cultural memories, beauty, and other topics critical to the religious life. Tippens quotes many well-known religious thinkers, from Augustine to Pascal, from Dietrich Bonhoeffer to Parker Palmer. He also quotes the Bible. When writing on friendship, he refers several times to John’s exhortation that a friend must be ready to give up his or her life for a friend. He also discusses spiritual friendship.  The book, as a whole, works to build up thoughts and insights that are enriching and rewarding.

One of the most startling parts of the book for me was Tippens’ discussion of the "downward mobility" of Christianity. Christianity requires that we give up interest in worldly values, such as money, power and success. Because of it, we are humbled and become downwardly mobile. Suffering also can teach us the deeper meanings of life. Suffering can bring us to religious faith. And it is religious faith that teaches us how to cope with life’s deeper issues and with death.

“Pilgrim Heart” was easy to understand and it was hard to put down. Tippens is learned, yet he remains down-to-earth. The book will be of value both to those beginning their spiritual journey and those well along the way. It accomplishes its aim of creating a spiritual outlook like that of the original disciples that can revitalize contemporary faith communities.

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