Taking a cue from her yoga class instructions, Holly Sprink frames the Christian life in terms of “noticing” and practicing certain postures in the new publication, Faith Postures. She notes in the introduction, as Christians begin to observe our own lives and how God is interacting with us, we can better respond to God. In taking these steps of response, Sprink says, we see that there are certain postures – what she defines as attitudes of the mind – “that we assume as God transforms us into who he created us to be” (5).
Highlighting the art of noticing in Part 1, Sprink notes the importance of noticing one’s self, God with us, the Holy Spirit, obstacles to faith, and a global perspective. Having focused the reader on this practice of awareness, Sprink then highlights such postures as expectancy in worship, hospitality, sharing, contentment, and love. By allowing ourselves to be “re-aligned” to such postures, Sprink asserts, Christians witness to the character and love of God.
Throughout Faith Postures, Sprink speaks from her own personal experience, life story, and theological perspective. She places much of herself in the book and invites the reader into her own world, struggles, and achievements. Being a young mother, Sprink incorporates her family life and adventures with her young daughter into nearly all of her illustrations, and most of her anecdotes surely will resonate closely with young parents. Her images and reflections point to the priority of personal spiritual formation in the author’s life and direct the reader to practice such faith postures in everyday, ordinary life.
Faith Postures is a testament to the importance of daily and intentional spiritual formation in the life of those who choose to follow Christ. For Sprink, the Christian life is an issue of awareness and mindfulness, allowing Christ to realign our values, priorities, and actions. This book is worth significant consideration because it highlights an important, and often overlooked, first step in the life of discipleship – the renewing of the mind.
Available from Smyth and Helwys, http://www.helwys.com