one better

January 2nd, 2013

open-bird-cage

In my last post I suggested three books on faith to begin the year. Here are ten reasons to begin exploring faith in your life starting now:

1. Now is the only time to begin.

2. Everything ends.

3. People you love will die.

4. There is no way to prepare.

5. One day you might get married.

6. You will face the reality of your choices every day.

7. Children don’t make you happy.

8. They make you grow up.

9. You don’t know as much as you thought.

10. Answers appear as you go.

And one better:

11. It’s free.

The questions in life are universal, and with them, our doubts and fears. In Katrina Kenison’s books, she writes through the questions we share: how do we parent, make a home, let go, be a friend, find a path, and become a true companion to ourselves? I am honored to share her art and kindness with you.

I’ve recommended other books on faith, but here’s one better. Katrina has offered a copy of her newest book, Magical Journey, as a gift to one of my blog readers. Please leave a comment on this post by Friday, Jan. 4 for a chance to take flight on Katrina’s latest journey.

And remember Katrina’s visit to Pasadena’s Vroman’s Bookstore on Feb. 8. Come sit with me in the front row.

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86 Comments »

  1. I am so ready to read this new book by Katrina. I love her writings, and look forward to the journey. Peace

    Comment by Karen — January 2, 2013 @ 7:18 pm

  2. While I have already ordered Katrina’s new book, would love to win a copy to give to my sister.

    Comment by Shawn — January 2, 2013 @ 8:18 pm

  3. Thank you for the gift of your blog. Great writing, beautiful reminders for the journey 🙂

    Comment by Darlene — January 2, 2013 @ 8:56 pm

  4. I love Katrina’s books. Would love a copy of it

    Comment by Jackie — January 2, 2013 @ 9:39 pm

  5. Would love to read it, your books are life changing… Thank you for introducing this author as well

    Comment by Audrey — January 2, 2013 @ 9:41 pm

  6. Thank you so much for the opportunity, and blessings to all who have posted.

    Comment by Marlisse — January 2, 2013 @ 10:08 pm

  7. Sounds wonderful-thank you.

    Comment by Kris — January 2, 2013 @ 11:11 pm

  8. Sounds like a very inspiring book ! Would you like to come to the Omega Institute ? I work there and you would be a perfect fit ! Blessings !

    Comment by Philip Brown — January 3, 2013 @ 1:18 am

  9. I’m a huge fan of KK and her wise, gentle voice and would love to read her latest book!

    Comment by Amy — January 3, 2013 @ 2:14 am

  10. 12. Your approach and perception of things is like putting seasoning or spices in a recipe. Mindful living can help you season the recipe to achieve the right flavor for you.

    Comment by Robin McMonagle — January 3, 2013 @ 3:26 am

  11. Hi Karen; I would love to be considered for any reading you recommend. I also would like to wish you a very happy New Year. I hope your retreat brought you what you needed. Kind regards.

    Comment by Simone — January 3, 2013 @ 3:57 am

  12. This sounds really, really good! Would love to have a copy.

    Comment by Cindy Wolfshohl — January 3, 2013 @ 4:16 am

  13. thank you for this generous and exquisite offering. karen and katrina together is pure bliss…love to you both.

    Comment by melissa — January 3, 2013 @ 5:40 am

  14. I have been inspired by both you and Katrina in the past 15 years of my motherhood journey. Thank you!

    Comment by Marcella — January 3, 2013 @ 6:01 am

  15. I love this list. As I sit at my desk after having sat this morning, I feel each of us is sitting together. This book is a mountainous treasure. I hope to sit with it.

    Comment by Clair Norman — January 3, 2013 @ 6:36 am

  16. “Answers appear as you go” is the difficult but encouraging lesson I am learning about writing these days. This was just the reminder I needed about both writing and life–that I don’t need to wait for answers in order to keep going.

    Comment by Christen — January 3, 2013 @ 6:42 am

  17. I hope you continue this thread of faith. I’m digging it and I think it fits like a garden rake in your hand.

    That said, I read anything Maezen tells me to but in this case I’m already a fan of Katrina’s. Hope I win because I still have to buy bday presents and bday party loot for two almost SEVEN YEAR OLDS!!!!!! Birthday is a week from Friday.

    Hold me. : )

    Comment by Shawn — January 3, 2013 @ 6:56 am

  18. Karen, Love the two lines, “Children don’t make you happy. They make you grow up.” ‘Aint that the truth! Wanted to comment on that, but not to enter for book. I already have a copy coming! XO

    Comment by Kasey — January 3, 2013 @ 7:27 am

  19. I love your list Karen, and i would love to read the book!

    Comment by Kirsten — January 3, 2013 @ 7:53 am

  20. I would be there in person if I lived closer. I am very much looking forward to Katrina’s new book.

    Comment by Kim — January 3, 2013 @ 8:28 am

  21. So looking forward to Katrina’s new book and have the Pasadena allearance on my calendar!

    Comment by Adrianne Coleman — January 3, 2013 @ 10:21 am

  22. Any book you recommend is going on my Must Read List. Happy New Year my sweet friend. ~L

    Comment by Lin — January 3, 2013 @ 10:43 am

  23. This book sounds refreshing and is apropos to my life as a first time mother and recovering perfectionist. This blog has been a blessing to me, along with Momma Zen. Thank you.

    Comment by Sara — January 3, 2013 @ 12:34 pm

  24. Would love a chance to win.

    Comment by Peggy Dlugos — January 3, 2013 @ 12:46 pm

  25. I met Katrina in Boston when I was attending your one day retreat. You both inspired me to walk my own path. I would love to read her new book!!! Thank you for the chance.

    Comment by Amy Pertl-Clark — January 3, 2013 @ 5:44 pm

  26. Sounds like just the book I need. Lots of changes, lots of exploration, lots of unknowns this year…

    Comment by Kelly Stanley — January 3, 2013 @ 7:01 pm

  27. I am currently stuck on “those I love will die.” I just last week lost my Father. I was not prepared. I don’t know if I ever would have been prepared. The loss has left a hole in me. I am empty. I am almost angered at the fact of “life goes on.” It shouldn’t. It should stop right here with me and mourn the loss of the most amazing man I ever knew. If the rest of the world knew him as I did, I am confident they would stop and mourn as well

    Comment by Paula Breseman — January 3, 2013 @ 8:02 pm

  28. Awesome post for the new year!

    just in time for me to realize how true some – actually most if not all – of your words are.. esp the “children make you grow up.. ”
    feeling that today for sure…

    Comment by Deb Keiser — January 4, 2013 @ 5:04 am

  29. The list of friends who will treasure Katrina’s voice grows in my head as I savor her story.

    Comment by Jena — January 4, 2013 @ 7:14 am

  30. This sounds delightful…..Magical Journey……yes please!

    Comment by Monica — January 4, 2013 @ 9:53 am

  31. this sounds like the perfect book to start the new year. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thanks!

    Comment by Mardou — January 4, 2013 @ 12:23 pm

  32. Thank you sweet Karen. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my two children, and how i actually DONT want them to make me happy (what a burden for them!!) Ah…parenting…my growing up (process)…and how answers appear as you go…(not just in the parenting realm). People i love will die..and there is no way to prepare. Breathing that one in…and out. There are too many questions to answer, and its especially boggling to only dig for answers in books. We all know the real answers are already within us, but like a trek, we only discover them AS WE GO. The ironic beauty of a good spiritual book is that it can help us on that trek. I am propelled to go online and buy this book ASAP. Tho a gift of this nature would mean thrice as much! The journey, the trek, the questions, the parenting, the devotions, the answers, the pain, the joy, the exhaustion, and the one more step each day…tells me more than ever we are all connected. In our essences… Like a painting and light. Like the shore and the vast ocean. Like our bodies and the distant stars…heartbreakingky beautiful.

    Comment by Liz — January 4, 2013 @ 12:35 pm

  33. I’m a huge fan of Katrina! I’ve been waiting patiently for this book. 🙂

    Comment by Melissa — January 4, 2013 @ 12:58 pm

  34. People you love will die.

    I have been ruminating on just this as the new year creeps in. My elders, all of them now in their 80s and 90s, make not make it through another year.

    There is no way to prepare.

    My children are all but grown, college kids who think they know how to take care of themselves, and i have to let them make their mistakes now even though it might break my heart.

    Your children make you grow up.

    I need this wisdom. Thank you.

    Comment by Angella — January 4, 2013 @ 2:58 pm

  35. Re #7, my daughters continue to bring me so much joy and laughter that I am not sure that I agree completely. Today when I got home, I got this lovely “daddy” from the stair gate. It was so heart warming. Still you know all this and more. Life brings happiness so long as we are open to accept it and don’t want it too much.
    Thanks as ever and happy new year.
    P

    Comment by Paul Brennan — January 8, 2013 @ 12:54 pm

  36. Faith, totally up high on my priorities list this year! My son is starting to ask some very deep questions and I am finding it hard to answer them. Looks like I need to do some faith searching myself!

    Comment by Amy — January 11, 2013 @ 6:44 am

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