<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<GoodreadsResponse>
	<Request>
		<authentication>false</authentication>
		    <method><![CDATA[]]></method>
	</Request>
	<review id="76929251">
    <user id="115028">
    <name><![CDATA[Jane]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Tucson, AZ]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/115028-jane]]></url>
  </user>
      <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <sell_flag>false</sell_flag>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
  <shelves>
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Nov 27 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Nov 06 11:09:28 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Nov 27 11:21:41 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Some people grasp God all in a moment, like Paul on the road to Damascus or the thief on the cross next to Jesus.  Others go along in ordinary life day by day, trying to reach God through prayers and practices or just by doing the right thing as often as they can.  Thomas a Kempis, a Dutch sequestered monk living right before the Protestant reformation, is in the second category.  His book is about  Ordinary Time - day by day Christianity, which, as everyone knows, is a challenge and adventure in its own quiet way.  His advice is practical and concrete: don't hang out with young people, you will be judged not by what you read but by what you do, live each day as if you have to account to it to God, it's okay to individualize your prayer life and rituals, try not to talk very much - things like that. What shines through on every page is his profound understanding of God and the vicissitudes of human spiritual life. The Thomas a Kempis path, like that of St. Therese of Lisieux or St. Ignatius -- is not dramatic. It is most unassuming way to God. When you read this book, you feel both humbled and inspired at the same time because you realize there can be people like this who are so intent on being good.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76929251]]></url>
</review>

</GoodreadsResponse>