CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Jan. 22, 2009 — In the wake of the great challenges of our day, including two wars, an economic meltdown, the ongoing presence of terrorism and environmental degradation, Blair Frank presents his arguments for a response in his new nonfiction guide, “Waking Up And Getting Ready: About Gardens, Spirituality and Wellness” (published by AuthorHouse – http://www.authorhouse.com), calling upon others to begin rebuilding and healing relationships with the Earth and each other.
In ten chapters, “Waking Up And Getting Ready” lays out a simple yet powerful guide to shifting our way of life as human beings, reprioritizing our needs and doing nothing short of realizing a “re-valuation” of life. Drawing upon his 15 years of experience as a nurse and another 15 years as a pastor, Blair begins by speaking to the urgency and relevancy of hospitality and progresses to his arguments for Earth-centered spirituality which include strengthening the community and living simply. He writes:
Hospitality is about getting ready. Getting ready for visitors helps me spiritually – and is great exercise as well for my mind and body. Getting ready involves what I love most in life: building community – relationship by relationship – in sustainable ways; living simply that others may simply live; and striving to include G-d and G-d’s will and way in all I do and all I am. And as you may have picked up by now, I can’t talk about getting “ready” without talking about the garden! …
We humans need some calming – and some waking up! We need a wake up call – and now! Gardens help us move through the sanity and the madness towards meaning and purpose. What can be more meaningful and give more purpose than to ensure that all people are fed? Gardens are vital for human beings to have a future. Gardens are vital to our well being. Without gardens we will be on an endangered list like all the species of animals and plants we humans have wiped out – or nearly wiped out – already.
Blair also includes a few questions at the end of each chapter to keep the reader engaged and to encourage them to learn more about gardens, their role in our future, “going-green,” and spiritual wellness. Weaving the personal and universal experience of gardens and building community, “Waking Up And Getting Ready” presents a positive, sustainable way to change our world for the better.
Blair Frank is a United Methodist pastor and has served churches in Iowa for 15 years. Blair and his wife, Sue, live in Bertram, Iowa and have six children between the two of them. Prior to moving to Iowa, Blair was a licensed practical nurse for 12 years and worked as a nurse in Colorado while he earned his degree from the Iliff School of Theology. “Waking Up And Getting Ready” is his first book. For more information, please visit: .
AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher (http://www.authorhouse.com) for emerging, self-published (http://www.authorhouse.com/GetPublished/FAQ.aspx) authors. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com.
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