Author: Susan Sutton
Located in: Fort Washington,PA
Submitted: May 14, 2009
Tell us a little about yourself. I have four books: A Quiet Center: A Woman's Guide to Resting in God's Presence (Kregel), A Sure Path: Going Forward with Christ When You'd Rather Settle Down in the World (Kregel), Sun Song (a children's book, Cook Publications), and now A Vision of the Deep (CLC). I have a background with InterVarsity (college fellowship and serving on staff for three years after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). My husband, Louis, our three children, Scott, Susan and Elisabeth and I served 13 years in Chad,Africa, as missionaries through church planting, medical and educational ministries. Louis and I now serve as directors of WEC International's US Sending Base, living at the WEC USA headquarters in Ft Washington, PA.
What was your motivation behind this project? The book begins with (and gets its title from) a quote from Antoine St-Exupery: "If you want to build a ship, don't just gather men to collect wood, divide the work and give orders. Rather, teach them to long for the immensity of the sea."
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? My prayer is that everyone who reads A Vision of the Deep will gain both inspiration and practical tools for genuine transformation of the heart and mind and ongoing connection with Christ on a daily basis. My desire is that they will love Christ more and take life with Him more seriously as a result of this book.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? Writing this book drew me into God's Word and into classic works on spiritual formation. I was reminded over and over of my own need for heart connection with Christ in order to be changed by Him. I was constantly on my knees asking God to make this book 'fire and song' for His sake, meaning words that both inspired and challenged a reader.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? I draw a good bit from the classics, quoting more often writers from the past than from the present. Francois Fenelon, Hannah Whitall Smith, Mdme Jeanne Guyon, Amy Carmichael, Augustine, Nouwen, among others.At the end of each chapter is a study with reflection questions and Scripture references, because it is important to get into God's Word and not just read about it.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: From the introductory 'Letter to the Reader':
"No one has more vision and passion for us than God does. May He stir in you a longing for the immensity of the sea - a longing that is, in reality, for Him. May He show you life as it is meant to be lived - Life with a capital L - for Him, with Him, and in His way."
