River Jordan - Praying for Strangers: An Adventure of the Human Spirit

EXTRAORDINARY PRAISE FOR
Praying for Strangers

Praying for Strangers will bless you and alter the way you see those seemingly random people that God places daily in your path.

Ron Hall, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Same Kind of Different as Me

Extraordinary. Praying for Strangers reminds us (through the power of this tiny, seemingly insignificant act) that we can never assume we know the vast universe that exists inside the person next to usor the one we are yet to discover inside ourselves. I have my next years resolution.

Neil White, author of In the Sanctuary of Outcasts

By means of story, anecdote, and calm persuasion, River Jordan suggests an unexpected remedy for both our cultural malaise and our sense of spiritual powerlessness: that we make a habit of praying, not for people we know, but for strangers, in an unheralded, untrumpeted gift of grace. The very act is compelling and quietly subversive in a culture where strangers equal threat and gifts demand notice. And in the end, the gift you might be giving is one to yourself.

Janis Owens, author of The Schooling of Claybird Catts

I read this book cover to cover and think it will top my gift list for friends and family members. Its a book that, above all else, reminds us of the need for universal kindness.

Southern Literary Review

Extraordinary Jordan writes eloquently about her experiences and the lessons she learned The idea of praying for strangers is admirable, and a reader looking for inspiration may find hope and grace in this account of the blessings of a prayerful life.

Publishers Weekly

Will inevitably affect the world of every reader who loses themselves in this memoirs masterfully written pages Spiritual, full of hope, and laugh-out-loud funny, Praying for Strangers will have readers cackling through the tears, cheering Jordans courage, and opening their eyes to the strangers that they rarely pause to meet. Honest, genuine Praying for Strangers is an authentic must-read for people in all walks of life.

Examiner.com

Gently beguiling [a] very personal journey in self-discovery.

Booklist

Offers readers a wonderfully written, shimmering, accessible, and wholly honest account of a journey into intercessory prayer. It is a journey that more of us might be encouraged to take because River Jordan has been willing to show us how.

Englewood Review of Books

Every once in a while I find a read that is so compelling, I wish that I owned stock in the author. River Jordan made me feel this way as I followed her very personal journey in Praying for Strangers. The stories are winsome, the lessons are timeless, and the power of generosity and grace shines ever so brightly each time the page turns.

Pastor Randy Phillips, Seattle, WA

In a word, River Jordans book is transformative. Praying for Strangers provides us with a wonderful template for a spiritual practice that is accessible to all!

Pastor Bob Bauman, Wrightsville United Methodist Church, Wrightsville Beach, NC

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An Adventure of the
Human Spirit

River Jordan

BERKLEY BOOKS, NEW YORK

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

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While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Copyright 2011 by River Jordan.

Readers Guide copyright 2012 by River Jordan.

Reader letters reproduced with permission.

Cover photograph by Helen Monnier/AgenceImages.

Cover design by Sarah Oberrender.

Text design by Tiffany Estreicher.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

BERKLEY is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

The B design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Berkley hardcover edition / April 2011

Berkley trade paperback edition / April 2012

The Library of Congress has cataloged the Berkley hardcover edition as follows:

Jordan, River.

Praying for strangers : an adventure of the human spirit / River Jordan. 1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN: 978-1-101-47628-4

1. Prayer. 2. Jordan, River. I. Title

BL560.J67 2011

204.3dc22 2010048306

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

ALWAYS LEARNING

PEARSON

T O THE S TRANGERS

These people are so pertinent to the full realization of this book. A few from personal history, and some seemingly invisible. Please allow me a moment to shine a light on just a few people to whom I am deeply grateful for their influence on this particular project.

A special thank-you to the memory of my grandmother Estelle, who allowed me to rest my sleepy head when the preaching ran long at that little Primitive Baptist Church on a country hill. A special note of gratitude to my mother for introducing our family to the Episcopal Church when I was eleven. It was the perfect place for this young writer to soak up the rhythm of the words spoken each Sunday, to understand a passion of prayer for all people, and to develop a quiet faith. My first official reading took place in that little church, although as the introverted child I was, I preferred to remain anonymous and let someone else do the reading for me. Amazingly, it was a prayer I had written at twelve for the soldiers on the Vietnam War front where my father was serving at the time.

My respect and appreciation for my agent, Greg Daniel, who did such an outstanding job capturing the essence of this book at its earliest stage and guiding the manuscript to the perfect home. Denise Silvestro, thank you for your outstanding editing that has somehow tamed my wild words into order with eloquence. My great admiration goes out to the marketing and publicity team at Berkley, including Craig Burke, Rick Pascocello, Melissa Broder, and Erica Martiranoyour enthusiasm for these words and their possibilities inspire me. For the Berkley art department, especially Judith Lagerman and Sarah Oberrender.