Title Details

Debra K. Farrington-- an insightful writer and popular retreat leader-- is publisher of Morehouse Publishing and the former manager of the Graduate Theological Union Bookstore in Berkeley, California. Farrington has written for a wide variety of publications including Spirituality and Health, Catholic Digest, The Lutheran, Publishers Weekly, U.S. Catholic, and many others.

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

PART I: BEGINNING THE JOURNEY.

Chapter One: The Hearing Heart.

Chapter Two: Navigating the Obstacle Course.

PART II: TOOLS FOR DISCERNMENT.

Chapter Three: The Prayerful Heart.

Chapter Four: The Attentive Heart.

Chapter Five: Learning with the Heart.

Chapter Six: Discerning Companions.

PART III: AT THE CROSSROADS.

Chapter Seven: The Thoughtful and Imaginative Heart.

Chapter Eight: Hearts Together.

Chapter Nine: The Engaged Heart.

Chapter Ten: Epilogue.

Resource.

Notes.

For Further Study.

The Author.

Index.

Farrington's touch is indeed gentle as she guides readers through the steps of discernment. Rather than relying on cautionary tales of the bad things that will happen if people fail to discern God's wi11, Farrington emphasizes God's love throughout the book. She makes the case that God's wi1l for humanity matches perfectly with the heart's deepest desires and enables people to do the most good for those around them. Her emphasis on the positive is enhanced by her balanced use of scripture, personal anecdotes, and stories from the lives of Christians throughout history, such as the Desert Fathers and the Society of Friends (Quakers). Perhaps most impressive is Farrington's ability to use scripture and Christian orthodoxy as the primary basis of her insights (she is an Episcopalian), but at the same time honor less orthodox and even non-Christian traditions. Staunch evangelicals wi1l have trouble with some of her language (such as referring to people as God's "co-creators") and her ambivalence about certain portions of the Bible. But everyone from the most conservative Christian to the most spiritual-but-not-religious folks will find her tools for discernment useful. They include the Quaker practice of settling into silence and waiting on God as well as Lectio Divina, a method for meditating on scripture. Farrington's final section invites readers to go through the process of discernment, but one need not be at a crossroads to appreciate this book. (Jan.) (Publishers Weekly, December 23, 2002)"Wise, thoughtful, gentle, honest— Debra Farrington is exactly the kind of companion we are hoping to find to travel with us on our journey home."
— Robert Benson, author, The Game: One Man, Nine Innings A Love Affair with Baseball and Between the Dreaming and the Coming True: The Road Home to God

"Debra K. Farrington knows that finding what to do with our lives— and making courageous and wise decisions at crucial turning points— is a primary need faced by all of us. She offers invaluable guidelines in her highly readable, Hearing with the Heart."
— Malcom Boyd, poet/writer in residence, Episcopal Cathedral Center of St. Paul, and author, Are You Running with Me, Jesus?

"The perfect handbook for anyone seeking a direction in life: practical information combined with grace-filled writing and a thorough explanation of the discernment process. Highly recommended reading for church discernment groups."
— Nora Gallagher, author, Things Seen and Unseen: A Year Lived in Faith and Practicing Resurrection: A Memoir of Discernment

"Rich with tradition and wise in counsel, this guide for the perplexed provides prayerful and practical guidance for all of us who yearn to live our lives as the persons we were made to be."
— Marcus Borg, author, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time and The God We Never Knew