Another Book to Read

In November, I got to hear Susan Baker speak at a book signing for her book Passing It On: An Autobiography with Spirit.  What struck me most was her honesty.  Though she touched on the notable public life she has had, along with her husband former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, she spoke in the same breath of her personal life--made up of suffering, joy, blessings, and faith.  I was especially moved by her use of this time to glorify God.  In a room full of nicely dressed women at a country club, Susan Baker was more interested in being real and pointing towards her personal savior Jesus Christ than she was about impressing anyone with stories of Washington and rubbing shoulders with the elite.

Last week, I finally read her book. That same humility mixed with humor and faith shone through each chapter. Beginning with her life growing up on a ranch, moving through marriage, children, divorce, remarriage, blending and growing family, politics, tragic deaths, and even cancer, she writes of each event through a faith perspective.  The book is very much her spiritual journey, as anchored by different events, rather than a political story or family memoir.  The last couple of chapters even read more like a devotional or a book to be used in a women's Bible study.  I gleaned much practical wisdom from her chapter on prayer (chapter 14, "Why Pray?").

Prayer seems to undergird almost every aspect of her personal story--from the moment she truly came to know God in a personal way to the public arena of Washington to surviving her battle with cancer.  Prayer in Washington was compelling to read about, especially the non-partisan prayer group to pray for First Lady Hilary Clinton and another prayer group for Iraq. What an amazing behind-the-scenes look at life in our nation's capitol.

Originally meant to be a story of encouragement and lessons learned for her own family, Passing It On certainly offers encouragement and wisdom for me, too. I think it is critical for us to hear from older, wiser people at each step of our lives, and if we don't have a formal mentor at the moment, a good book can provide direction and food for thought.