The Mindful Christian: Cultivating a Life of Intentionality, Openness and Faith

Reviewed by:

G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title:

The Mindful Christian: Cultivating a Life of Intentionality, Openness and Faith

Author:

Dr. Iren Kraegel

Publisher:

Fortress Press

Publication Date:

February 18, 2020

Format:

Hardcover

Length:

150 pages

OVERVIEW

Pretty much all of us experiences stress on some level, and we all want to reduce it. Dr. Irene Kraegel, director of Calvin College’s Center of Counseling and Wellness, suggests the key isn’t to minimize discomfort but to become more aware of our surroundings. Using mindfulness, a meditation technique that emphasizes focusing on one’s environment, people can discover reality anew. This discovery allows people to see how God’s present in the world around them, recovering a sense of gratitude and peace. Kraegel gives readers everything they need to know to do mindfulness practices, including:

• How to do the standard mindfulness exercises
• How mindfulness relates to traditional Christian spiritual exercises
• How to cultivate attitudes like compassion and gratitude that make mindfulness more effective

Some readers may initially be thrown off by the idea of doing something normally marketed as a “secular meditation” technique to find inner peace. Kraegel admits that she initially wasn’t sure about mindfulness because she associated meditation with Buddhism. While she doesn’t devote much time to contrast mindfulness with Eastern meditation, she does show how mindfulness uses techniques that connect to Biblical ideas and how ultimately Christianity provides the best framework for doing mindfulness practices. All things considered, this is a solid manual on achieving new mental clarity and peace.

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

3.5 out of 5 stars

Suggested Audience

Readers interested in Christian meditation techniques, readers seeking simple practices to improve their mental health.

Christian Impact

This book will help readers discover new ways to see God’s work around them and be grateful for his constant presence.