Joy Sawyer. InterVarsity Press, $11 (163pp) ISBN 978-0-8308-2229-4
Sawyer, a poetry editor for Inklings and the Mars Hill Review, challenges Christians to ""live by poetry,"" not so much by linear observance. Quoting writers such as Thoreau, Shakespeare and T.S. Eliot alongside her own poetry, Sawyer illustrates that spiritual growth is a creative process. Throughout this nine-chapter book, Sawyer introduces readers to imaginative correlations between spiritual exercises and the varying ""dances"" of poetry in life; she imagines the church, for example, as an ongoing workshop community. Sawyer utilizes various forms of poetry to describe individuals' diverse spiritual journeys. Human ""sonnets"" are those Christians who relish order, symmetry and closure, while ""free verses"" chafe at restrictions and ""haikus"" speak with intent and place high value on simplicity. Within each poetic form, there is a place for Christians to better develop their unique dance of service for God. Sawyer's chapter topics range from discovering a communion between faith and poetry, developing an individual poetic voice through prayer, learning to find hope amidst despair, finding blessing in brokenness and living joyously despite life's trials. Sawyer's unique poetic metaphors offer readers nourishing spiritual food for the dance ahead. (Feb.)