In sharing his parenting challenges (such as staying present in the presence of a flailing, crying baby or trying to honor a daughter's yearning to become a racehorse jockey), Spangler has packaged a book so tender and profound that parents cannot help but be inspired to bring their highest and most joyful selves to every interaction of parenthood. --Gail Hudson
]]>When Spangler (Everyday Miracles) was first starting his career as a spiritual leader, a woman approached him after a lecture and asked him to "give me a blessing." Initially he recoiled, feeling it would be grandiose for him to offer a blessing to another. He had a Hollywood image of what she was asking for--"heavenly choirs singing, inner lights blazing ... with the recipient having all her problems solved, her consciousness raised, and life transfigured." Then with a breath of clarity, Spangler realized that a real blessing would be "a soft and warming breeze that invited us to open windows and doors to let stuffiness out and new life in ... It was not meant to impress but to touch and connect." So he simply took her hands, closed his eyes, became still, and reached out to "embrace her in my spirit and to be embraced in hers."
This exchange is the metaphor Spangler returns to time and again. Readers come to understand that a blessing is a simple act of connection, not a holier-than-thou act of ego. Furthermore, blessings always come back to us--we join forces with benevolence and spirit, and in doing so, we can't go wrong. While the early chapters address the "Spirit of Blessing," the rest are devoted to an abundance of exercises and examples of how to invoke blessings. Readers are privy to Spangler's renowned teaching skills, as he offers creative exercises and sample blessings while helping them find their own style of invocation. Spangler finishes with a lesson on casting blessings upon global famines, wars, and oppression, helping readers find a spiritual context for spreading goodwill beyond the boundaries of race and nations. --Gail Hudson
]]>When Spangler (Everyday Miracles) was first starting his career as a spiritual leader, a woman approached him after a lecture and asked him to "give me a blessing." Initially he recoiled, feeling it would be grandiose for him to offer a blessing to another. He had a Hollywood image of what she was asking for--"heavenly choirs singing, inner lights blazing ... with the recipient having all her problems solved, her consciousness raised, and life transfigured." Then with a breath of clarity, Spangler realized that a real blessing would be "a soft and warming breeze that invited us to open windows and doors to let stuffiness out and new life in ... It was not meant to impress but to touch and connect." So he simply took her hands, closed his eyes, became still, and reached out to "embrace her in my spirit and to be embraced in hers."
This exchange is the metaphor Spangler returns to time and again. Readers come to understand that a blessing is a simple act of connection, not a holier-than-thou act of ego. Furthermore, blessings always come back to us--we join forces with benevolence and spirit, and in doing so, we can't go wrong. While the early chapters address the "Spirit of Blessing," the rest are devoted to an abundance of exercises and examples of how to invoke blessings. Readers are privy to Spangler's renowned teaching skills, as he offers creative exercises and sample blessings while helping them find their own style of invocation. Spangler finishes with a lesson on casting blessings upon global famines, wars, and oppression, helping readers find a spiritual context for spreading goodwill beyond the boundaries of race and nations. --Gail Hudson
]]>When writing them, publication was the farthest thing in my mind. But now that the opportunity has come to share them with a wider audience through this book, I feel this is a special gift in its own right, both for the stories and for me.
So from my Story Tree to yours, may these tales of wonder and magic brighten your spirit and bring a smile to your lips. Merry Christmas, everyone!
—from the Introduction by David Spangler
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