Summer Reading for Adults
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
by Bryan Stevenson
For me, there is nothing better that sitting on the front porch on a summer morning, sipping on a good cup of coffee, and reading a book that inspires and challenges me. Reading as a spiritual practice helps me grow as a follower of Jesus, expands my view of life, and gives me language for communicating what matters most. A good book can lead me more fully into the presence of God as I hear the voice of the Spirit speaking to me in new and old ways. It can also educate me on how to live the life God is calling me to live, helping me to better understand my neighbor so that I can love more fully.
To share my enjoyment of reading as a spiritual practice, I invite you to join me in reading a book together. Just Mercy is a book (and a movie) that educated, challenged, and inspired me. Its title resonates with the prophet Micah’s proclamation, “What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God” (6:8). I challenge us all to listen to the voices of those who have been oppressed and seek to understand by doing the work to educate ourselves on how to love our neighbor as ourselves.