Lift Your Sails

By Vincent Dwyer

Taking his insights from key psychological educators and blending them with the teachings of the great spiritual masters, Father Dwyer shows readers how to test, train, and maintain their spiritual development. And, using his own life experience as a case study of spiritual growth, he lights the way to renewing and enhancing the adult Christian faith.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385242573
• ISBN13: 9780385242578
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Image
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Contemporary Spiritual Classic

A number of years ago I was visiting St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, MA and I purchased a book. The man at the counter asked if I wanted an autographed copy, and to be polite, I said yes. The man then took a pen and autographed my book with the inscription "To Tim, May the Spirit fill your sails and guide you on your journey-With best wishes-Fr. Vincent, O.C.S.O. I was surprised to actually be talking with a real live author, and found it rather surprising he was working at the gift store counter, but he told me he loved the job and saw it as a service to his religious community. He seemed to be an authentic follower of Christ, and I could hardly wait to read his book.Perhaps because I actually met the author I was more interested in his book, but as I read the pages I discovered the writings of a man who loved God, loved being a priest, and understood modern life and the human condition. While he touches on all the familiar tenets of Christianity: following Christ, love and forgiveness, the importance of prayer, and the dignity of the human person, he shares personal anecdotes from his life, his ministry as a priest, and his meeting such a wide variety of people. We hear about moments when he was sure of his vocation, and moments of challenge. We hear about when he felt the love of God and others, and when this was somewhat difficult. In the end, we find a person who was speaking to his contemporary culture, but does so in a way that even years down the road, the work will be relevant.It was ten years ago when I encountered Fr. Dwyer in the abbey bookstore, and I have probably read the book two or three times. I have used the book in classes and Bible studies over the years and often look for quotes from the book when I give talks or homilies. I always find the words fresh and alive. On a personal level, Fr. Dwyer's words have always seemed like his prayer for me, and I believe his words as well as his prayer have helped me "lift my sails."

A Personal Journey

Lift Your Sails By Vincent DwyerThe Continuum Publishing Co. 1999Lift Your Sails, The Challenge of Being a Christian by Vincent Dwyer, O.C.S.O. is a short book that is entertaining yet also can used as a spiritual guide. It deals with our spiritual journey to the Father. It is a personal suggested guide based on love and forgiveness. "Your unique response to God's revealing himself on your journey is what it's all about.Your journey...involves Your whole being, spiritually, emotionally, physically, And intellectually. It is a lifelong process... p. 12The title of the book, Lift Your Sails, the Challenge of Being a Christian, comes both from Father Dwyer's love of sailing and the teaching of an early Church Father who said that "the task we face is to lift our sails and set out on the journey to the Father." Lift Your Sails is a reflection of Father Dwyer's own journey. It shares a personal method of meeting God and integrating that encounter into your life. You can read Lift Your Sails quickly as an insightful approach to prayer. It is entertaining, also. But it can be used as "lectio divina", too: reading and reflecting your way through the book. When something in the text seems meaningful, you can let the Holy Spirit guide your reflection to deepen into prayer. Lift Your Sails is a wonderful spiritual guide. The book begins with Jesus' invitation to "Come, follow me." "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." (John 14:6) Father Dwyer explains that God invites each one of us on an adventure. An adventure to a pilgrimage that will lead to God. "The winds of God's grace are always blowing; we need only make the effort to lift our sails." P. 36. Two things are necessary for your journey towards God: humility and love. By humility, Dwyer means believing that God loves you as you are, and you are exactly what God intended you to be. Never consider yourself worthless. You are the image of God. Love is communicated and communication means staying in tune. Not everyone says what he or she means. Pay attention to what people do, not necessarily what they say. Father Dwyer gives as an example his father who never said in words that he loved him. Yet his father, who lost everything in the depression, worked hard for his family to provide everything-food, clothes, a place that was comfortable. Of course, communication also includes staying in tune with all God does for us too. Observe the world around you and see how God takes care of us because He loves us. Once we realize how much God loves us, some people feel ashamed that they wasted so much of their life loving the wrong things. Father Dwyer explains, ...However, the truth of the matter is that as we proceed on our journey We are accountable only for the light we have. There's no point in dwelling on the mistakes we've made; our only task is to nurture our potential for growth. Pp.