{"product_id":"touched-by-god-9781472951007","title":"Touched by God","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eLuigi Gioia''s \u003ci\u003eSay it to God\u003c\/i\u003e was chosen for the 2018 Archbishop of Canterbury''s Lent Book--no mean feat for a first time author. In this new book, Gioia moves on to show the art of contemplation. But he points out from the start that contemplation is not a more advanced way of praying but a greater awareness of the presence of God. The defining mark of this awareness is that we become more and more aware of God''s presence, a unique kind of inner peace and joy which has been described by spiritual authors with a variety of arresting and often poetic images. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat Gioia describes is not some kind of spiritual wonderland; for it does not dispense us from struggles and doubts and often the non-evidence of God. It brings a peace which coexists with doubt, a peace which can flourish in the middle of struggles, a joy that we can discover even in suffering.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIntroduction: Unexpected harmony\u003c\/i\u003e  \u003cb\u003ePART ONE: FEELINGS\u003c\/b\u003e The gift of feeling Irrelevant feelings Frustrating feelings Silent rest Restless desire Mindfulness Arresting awareness A strange ability  \u003cb\u003ePART TWO: JOHN\u003c\/b\u003e Empty hands Playful encounters Soft spot Chasing the fugitive God's touch Body and flesh Acknowledging stillness Contemplating the light Struggling to see The inner nagging  \u003cb\u003ePART THREE: QUIETISM\u003c\/b\u003e Sue the bastard! Embracing history A new sense of identity What did you expect?  \u003cb\u003eEPILOGUE\u003c\/b\u003e Yours is the night The teacher within  \u003ci\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eA Note on the Author\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Publishing PLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48867232579927,"sku":"9781472951007","price":10.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781472951007.jpg?v=1722282335","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/touched-by-god-9781472951007","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}