Leighton Ford - The Attentive Life

Leighton Ford

The Attentive Life

Discerning Gods Presence in All Things

www.ivpress.com/books

978-0-8308-8405-6

978-0-8308-7487-3

978-0-8308-4312-1

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InterVarsity Press
P.O. Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
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2008 by Leighton Ford

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from InterVarsity Press.

InterVarsity Press is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, a movement of students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges and schools of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, write Public Relations Dept. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, 6400 Schroeder Rd., P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895, or visit the IVCF website at www.intervarsity.org.

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Design: Cindy Kiple
Images: bird: Linda Bucklin/iStockphoto
window: Ekaterina Fribus/i Stockphoto

ISBN 978-0-8308-9644-8 (digital)
ISBN 978-0-8308-3516-4 (print)

To Jeanie

who pays attention

to God, to others, to our family

and to me

so well and so naturally

This is a book of such quiet beauty and deep simplicity it is difficult to describe. I was both pierced and healed by longing in the reading of it. The word soul is thrown around far too easily these days, but this book will touch the soul if you let it.

John Ortberg, pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, and author of The Life You've Always Wanted

I thank God for The Attentive Life. It provides an antidote to the primary spiritual problem of our day: distraction. The Attentive Life is the mature reflections of one who has spent a lifetime walking in the way of Jesus.

Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline and Life with God

My heart sings when I realize that Leighton Fords intelligent experience continues to look with longing for more. His attention keeps getting arrested by words, ideas, images, details of the natural and supernatural landscapes.... This book is a primer in how to respond actively to Jesus' challenge: Behold! Look! Listen! Take notice! There is still so much for you to discover.

Luci Shaw, poet and author of Breath for the Bones and The Crime of Living Cautiously and writer-in-residence, Regent College

Awakening is a central metaphor for the spiritual life. In a compelling voice that comes from years of spiritual journeying, Leighton Ford shows us how to wake up and pay attention to the presence of Godthrough the hours of our days and the seasons of our lives.

Ruth Haley Barton, president of the Transforming Center and author of Sacred Rhythms

Leighton Ford writes with insight, faith and balance. This book, like Jesus, transcends all denominational lines. Drawing on the wisdom of many traditions, The Attentive Life is a warm invitation to wake up, not just to the reality of God but to what is deepest inside of us. This is a gold mine of wisdom and balance, a challenging thought on every page. I heartily recommend it to readers of all faiths.

Ronald Rolheiser, author of The Holy Longing

A spirit of ecumenism informs Fords gracefully written guide to thoughtful prayer and attentiveness to God's voice.

Library Journal, March 1, 2008

[A] distinctly Protestant addition to the tradition of monastic spirituality.

Publishers Weekly, March 10, 2008

Ford expresses in an almost poetic manner the peace that comes with the continual observation of and attentiveness to the presence of God.

Heidi L. Ippolito,Christian Retailing, April 21, 2008

Those who appreciate contemplative, gentle, insightful focus into the spiritual life will enjoy this partly autobiographical work.

Anita Cain,CBA Retailers + Resources, May 2008

The Attentive Life chronicles [Fords] new desire to be attentive and more deeply nurture a viable set of practices that facilitate such spiritual intimacy with God. The Attentive Life is a perfect example of the kinds of things the Formatio line is about. We highly recommend it.

Byron Borger,Hearts & Minds Books, April 30, 2008

Using the richt tradition of praying the hours, Ford will walk with you, helping you pay attention to Gods work in you and around you throughout each day and in different seasons of your life.

Alice Brasky on Book Bargains and Previews, June 1008

Filled with examples of those who paid attention, Fords evangelical bona fides are unquestionable and well worth reading.

The Christian Courier, August 2008

This book is special. It stretches the soul and makes everything a prayer.

Lamplighter, August 2008

... A wonderfully compelling invitation to a life of prayer... Ford know how to share the hours with witful intelligence, charm and winsome conviction. This delightfully well-written book [will] provide any group with a host of insights, provocations, and layered viewpoints for discussion.

Praying Daily (prayingdaily.blogspot.com), August 11, 2008

This book will take more than one reading to absorb its richness. Personal illustrations, an abundance of thought-provoking quotes, and memorable object lessons make this a book that may become a contemporary classic.

JZ,Church Libraries, Fall 2008

Ford examines how distractions of our post-modern world rob us of the time we spend with God. Through this easy-flowing book, he leads one into the practice of attentiveness, pointing out that the best and deepest things of life come through attentive waiting. Appropriate for both new Christians and those of long-time faith.

LW, Libraries Alive, Winter 2009

You will do well to pay attention

[to the prophetic word]... until the day dawns

and the morning star rises in your hearts.

2 Peter 1:19 NIV