BOOK REVIEW | Oxygen
Oxygen: Deep Breathing for the Soul
by Keri Wyatt Kent
Keri Wyatt Kent, the author of Breathe offers the perfect guide to Christians desiring to deepen their walk with Christ. The author reveals several practices that will help develop our most important relationship — the same one that often gets neglected due to the busyness of life. These simple practices have been apart of the Christian tradition for centuries. The author takes the reader on a journey through learning the following practices in 28 weeks.
Deep Listening – This involves reading the words slowly, letting each word from the verse or chapter sink in. The reader should listen and make note of any word or phrases that stand out.
Journaling – The author encourages the reader to purchase a blank notebook and nice colored pens. The journal can be used for writing or sketching, but it is not meant to be critiqued by the journal owner or others. This activity opens up thought patterns, allowing the student to track over time.
Being There – Imagine yourself in the passage you are reading. This method is based on Gospel Meditation or the Ignatian Method, name after a monk, Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
Breather Prayer – This is a short prayer that can be prayed in the space of one breath. This technique provides the person an opportunity to focus his/her mind by meditating on Jesus versus the distraction.
Solitude – Being alone with God is the sole purpose for this technique. People have been conditioned to desire business or noise around them. During this technique a person must not only spend time alone, but spend it in silence.
Kindness – The last practice requires putting your faith in action. We must remind ourselves life is not about us, but about God and others.
In our walk, we have to learn to be flexible and try new things to refresh our souls. It is really easy to get into a routine and thus find ourselves in a boring rut where we are not growing spiritually. Oxygen: Deep Breathing for the Soul is definitely a keeper for the bookshelf for those times when a person needs to revive his/ her quality time with God.
