Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Archives for February 2021

Review: A story for those who love Ireland

A Dance in Donegal is a sweet romance that made me long for a trip to Ireland. The story started a little slower than I usually like as Moira adjusted to her new life in Ballymann but by the middle I was invested in the characters and their converging paths. I wanted to see how the relationship between her and Sean would progress. I also enjoyed the use of Gaelic language and the glossary that was included in the back of the book for proper pronunciation and meaning. I look forward to reading more Irish stories from this author.

A guide for the wanderers

This book is part history, part guidebook for the spiritual life, and Lisa Deam has combined the two in a way that is accessible for even the nominal spiritual seeker. Following the journeys of three medieval saints who pilgrimaged to Jerusalem, Deam applies their experiences to those of the modern pilgrim, even ones who have not left their homes and families for a trip to the Holy Land. We modern saints have much to learn from our spiritual ancestors, and Deam presents the historical journeys in an accessible way for those of us who might be new to the idea of pilgrimage, or the study of saints. 

As I read, I began thinking of Jerusalem in a new way, especially as it appears in the Bible–not as simply an actual physical place but as a metaphor of the end goal of the Christian life. A place in the spiritual kingdom, the dwelling place of God at the end of all things.

Deam reminds us that we do not have to go on an epic journey of faith like these pilgrims did in order to experience spiritual renewal: “A true pilgrim travels nowhere more distant than the landscape of her own faith.”

3,000 Miles to Jesus: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life for Spiritual Seekers is a helpful tool in the hands of those who might be wandering in their faith or feeling a bit lost on their journey.

I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher. Review reflects my honest opinion.