The Hidden Beauty of Everyday Life

April 24, 2006
Following up on the inspirational messages of his earlier books (Small Graces
, etc.), Minnesota writer and sculptor Nerburn shares the lessons he has absorbed through ordinary experiences. Whether listening to bird calls on a trip to Oxford, England; observing a man without legs in a wheelchair flying a kite"; or engaged in conversation with an elderly man in a gym locker room, the author feels the presence of God in every encounter. Nerburn's gentle spirituality and strong religious faith carry him through the many difficult moments he shares. When an adolescent asks him for change for something to eat, the author overcomes his initial resistance by recalling the gospel passage, "I was hungry and you gave me to eat." Although Nerburn initially waves away the beggar's thanks, he comes to realize that it is important for him to accept in return. As the only white person at a Native American funeral for a former student killed in an accident, the author becomes immersed in cultural traditions that, while not his own, unite him with the mourners in a moment of shared comprehension. These reflective writings should appeal to those who share Nerburn's values and beliefs.