Life is not a resume. In Constance Rhodes book, The Art of Being, she drives home this point with the compilation of testimonials that depict finding the concept of being. The honesty of the fifteen Christian musician/writers is illustrated in their straight-forward life depictions in coming to terms with their search for and definition of being. The book provides a sense of peace. It stimulates inward reflection by the reader to determine whether or not he or she is measuring life by trophies on the wall or by the fulfillment that comes with discovering who he or she really is and being comfortable and content with that person.
With each chapter as a separate testimonial by a different author, The Art of Being is an easy read. A photo of each writer precedes his or her chapter, offering a personal connection from the start and fueling a guess from the reader as to what will follow. The individual writers offer believable life struggles, turmoil, anguish and then the acknowledgement of God during their journeys to discover the art of being. Rhodes, having worked in and left the music industry on her pursuit of being, has chosen to present the material through the eyes of artists in her field.
One of the most compelling messages comes from Tammy Trent, a Christian musician who, in dealing with the loss of her young husband, figures out that life is not all about her. It is about God. Another is offered by Gabriel Wilson, an eccentric Gen Xer who struggled to fit in and whose lofty dreams of being a Christian rock star were often questioned. He writes, If we can just stay true to what God made us to be, He will take care of the rest. The Art of Being touches and teaches the reader through fifteen plus of these real-life lessons.
Reading The Art of Being is like sitting around at the coffee shop with fifteen close friends: relaxed, conversational, and very personal. Stylistically, the book is very edgy with its graphics, font and photo choices. The testimonials are primarily from young to middle-aged artists and their illustrations and examples are taken from very modern icons. Though the messages are clear and could be beneficial to anyone who reads them, the book is a definite match for the creative-minded, Christian Gen-Xer who may be "seeking the art of being." The Art of Being is highly recommended for those who may be beginning on their own journey of self-discovery. -- Angela S. Hudson, Christian Book Previews.com
