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The Book of the Shepherd
The Story of One Simple Prayer, and How It Changed the World

by JoAnn Davis

     

Every so often a book comes along that captures our attention with its simple story, yet has such a profound meaning that it should be shared by all people. Such is the case with JoAnn Davis's The Book of the Shepherd. Actually Davis is not the author, as she found the book and saw fit to have it published. We should be thankful that she made the effort to have the book published. On the front page The Scribe is listed as the author.

Joshua the shepherd tries to intervene when a father beats his son, while others cheer the father on for his idea of how to discipline the boy. A slave named Elizabeth thanks the shepherd for his help, and they take off on a journey to find "the new way," along with a boy named David. Normally, I would not divulge much of what happens after that, but in this case, there is no need to hide what is going to happen. The reader knows that the "new way" is actually not new at all—it is the right way, which is not being followed. This is the idea the book illustrates; that what we spend a great deal of time and energy to find is already where we live, or inside of us. As the three make their journey, they exhibit the very qualities that make up the new way.

When the three find the prayer that explains the new way, they realize they were following the ideas of the prayer all along. Look how simple the prayer is and think what a profound effect its message could have on the world if people would follow its advice:

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, let me sow pardon
Where there is doubt, let me sow faith
Where there is despair, let me sow hope
Where there is sadness, let me sow joy
Where there is darkness, let me sow light
For it is giving that we receive
It is pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life
For this is the Law of Substitution

The solution is so simple, but we find it hard to follow these few basic rules for the good life.  Maybe this book will help us remember what we are supposed to do.

The Book

HarperStudio / an imprint of HarperCollins
October 27, 2009
Hardcover
0061732303 / 9780061732300
Inspirational
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE:

The Reviewer

Willie Elliott
Reviewed 2010
NOTE: Reviewer Willie Elliott is Myshelf.com's "Before the Title" columnist, covering non-fiction books and related subjects.
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