This past year, I read a lot of books - some for fun, and some for the purpose of learning and growth. I went into 2020 with a list of books I wanted to read… yet, none of them stand out as “Top 5.” Each of the books listed below fell into my lap at the right moment, when I needed it, and when the Spirit was sure to do the most work in me. Whatever you’re in search of, I hope this list can be a resource for you.

Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation

M. Robert Mulholland Jr.

“Everyone is in a process of spiritual formation. We are being shaped into either the wholeness of the image of Christ or a horribly destructive caricature of that image--destructive not only to ourselves but also to others, for we inflict our brokenness upon them . . . The direction of our spiritual growth infuses all we do with intimations of either Life or Death.”

I read all of the “Top 5” books on my Kindle, expect for this one. This was the only physical book I purchased, because I knew I was going to highlight it, write in it, fold down pages, and reference it for a long, long time. If you’re into the Myers-Briggs personality typing system, you’ll love this book. Mulholland includes several charts outlining each type and challenges each type on their spiritual practices. In addition, I’m a big Ruth Haley Barton fan, and she dedicated her entire podcast season 10 to this book (which is how I discovered it). I recommend listening to her chapter episodes as you read through the book. 

The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions

Emily P. Freeman

"Our next right thing will often be to wait. Give time to allow the clutter to clear. Create space for your soul to breathe. Make room for your desire to show up at the table. Begin to name the unnamed things. Wait. Listen. Repeat. It’s not a black-and-white world, which means decisions are rarely right or wrong. It doesn’t always matter which road you choose. What matters is God is with you. Sometimes I wonder if the reason he seems to move so slowly within and around us is because he knows we need time to let our blacks and whites move toward a more layered gradient of gray."

Nearing the end of my 3-month sabbatical, I found myself struggling with several big decisions. Do I go back to my job? Do I look for a new one? Do I stay and ask for a new role? Do I reduce my hours so I can create more space for writing? In addition, Shay and I were asking big questions about our future together. This book helped me put things into perspective, and “do the next right thing.” Freeman also recently released a guided journal that I will likely be purchasing.

Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved

Kate Bowler

“What would it mean for Christians to give up that little piece of the American Dream that says, “You are limitless”? Everything is not possible. The mighty Kingdom of God is not yet here. What if rich did not have to mean wealthy, and whole did not have to mean healed? What if being people of “the gospel” meant that we are simply people with good news? God is here. We are loved. It is enough.”

I read this book in February of 2020, before the pandemic. Since then, every time I heard someone say “everything happens for a reason” or “God has a plan”, I cringed. Bowler challenges the prosperity gospel, and made me realize that parts of my life and the words that came out of my mouth aligned with a belief system I don’t claim to follow. Life is complex and full of suffering. Dwindling down our disappointments and “setbacks” to a few clichés doesn’t make it any easier.

Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God

Kaitlin B. Curtice

“I remember sitting in an adult Sunday school class at a church in Atlanta when I realized that there may be various versions of the creation story, that perhaps the story of Gilgamesh, an epic Mesopotamian poem, and the Hebrew creation story had some things in common, affected each other even. A few months later when I read the Cherokee and then the Potawatomi tales of how the earth was formed, I saw not how we are divided but how we are connected. Every time we read a story, my oldest son asks, “But is that true? Is that really how it happened?” When he asks, we always have a conversation about how we don’t really know but that we can listen to and learn from the cultures of people around the world. What happened there will always be a mystery, but we can dream and imagine, theorize and wonder. We have many other stories we tell our children, stories that we’ve grown up with. But the reality is, it is mystery how that very first breath brought life to that very first organism.”

Kaitlin is a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation, a Christian, and a poet who speaks on faith and justice within the church as it relates to Indigenous peoples. I first heard about Curtice on the Upside Down Podcast. The podcast interview alone had me purchase her book, and I was blown away (and embarrassed) at how little I know about Native American history and culture. I walked away challenged and reminded of how important it is to diversify the “Christian” books I read.

What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything

Rob Bell

“Jesus didn’t talk about a God who wants to burn this place down and take us somewhere else; he talked about the renewing of this place, the only home we’ve ever had. Central to the story of the Bible is the affirmation of trees and seas and rocks and air and soil and blood and sweat and skin and all the materiality and diversity and creativity that we know to be central to our life in this world. Jesus talked about a coming time when God would restore and renew and reconcile and redeem and make things right, and he invites us to anticipate that day by doing our part to bring heaven to earth, here, now, today.”

Bell is one of the first authors who allowed me to question my faith. In fact, he argues that questions and doubt are natural, and can lead to a deeper faith. In his book “Velvet Elvis” he says “it’s like a pool that you dive into, and you start swimming toward the bottom, and soon you discover that no matter how hard and fast you swim downward, the pool keeps getting … deeper. The bottom will always be out of reach.”  This image has always stuck with me. This is what Bell does in his book “What is the Bible?” - he swims deeper and deeper and asks questions I’ve never dared to ask. This book made me appreciate the Bible on a whole new level.

I’d love to hear what your top 2020 books were, or better yet - what you’re already digging into in 2021. Leave a note in the comments for me and anyone else who stumbles across this post!