tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1005196875375123554.post8343523558793054285..comments2024-03-27T13:06:58.438-06:00Comments on Harry Tucker - Observations and Musings: “The Catholic Vision For Leading Like Jesus” – A Book ReviewHarry Tuckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329922320940535781noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1005196875375123554.post-41947988059856324702009-10-21T13:21:52.861-06:002009-10-21T13:21:52.861-06:00Dear Dr. Phelps,
I am always honored and privileg...Dear Dr. Phelps,<br /><br />I am always honored and privileged when an author responds directly to a book review that I have written.<br /><br />Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and for responding with such kind, insightful words.<br /><br />What you wrote here really resonates with me. The notion of accepting the beautiful miracle that each one of us is is a powerful concept that we all need to hold close to our hearts.<br /><br />You close with "bloom where we are planted". Your book provides another means of helping us move a little closer to doing just that.<br /><br />Thank you for your heart and your insight, Dr. Phelps! I have learned much from your book and from your comment here and I am grateful to you for that.<br /><br />You are what I refer to as an example of authenticity in servant leadership!<br /><br />Blessings to you!<br /><br />HarryHarry Tuckerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329922320940535781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1005196875375123554.post-77129440333070427452009-10-21T09:14:04.848-06:002009-10-21T09:14:04.848-06:00Harry, thank you so much for this wonderful review...Harry, thank you so much for this wonderful review -- and for adding your own personal insights that arose as you read the book. I learned some valuable things from reading your review, and for that I am as grateful as for your kind words. <br /><br />One quick note about your comment: "If we are unable to trust and love ourselves, our ability to work with others will be severely limited." You are absolutely right! However, most of us fall into the trap of building our self-esteem on the results we achieve and the praise of others. In this way, we are like the foolish man who build his house on sand (Mt 7:26-27). When crisis comes -- when we are needed most -- our confidence collapses and things are completely ruined. We need to build our sense of self-esteem on rock -- and that rock is the assurance of God's unconditional love for us. It's helpful to remember two things as we work to become more aware, more connected to and more reliant on that. <br /><br />1. God not only gives us life at conception, He provides us with life in each moment. Each breath we breathe is God breathing through us, willing our existence. We exist in each moment because -- and only because -- He wants us to be, He loves us to be. Obviously, He has some purpose in this, and so we always have some intrinsic purpose for being here, even if we have no idea at the moment what it is. <br /><br />2. God loves us even when we do not or cannot love ourselves (an especially helpful realization when we are disgusted, embarrassed or disappointed in ourselves). Even then God still loves us as much as ever, and that should give us some confidence that we are not worthless or useless. God does not make junk. As Genesis tells us: "God looked at everything He had made, and He found it very good." <br />God finds us "very good" even on our worst days, even in our sin, and when we roam or stumble or fall, He always, always calls us back to His loving embrace. It is there we find the basis for trusting and loving ourselves -- as God's cherished children and His intended expression of love to the world. From the perspective of being held in His embrace, we resolve to develop all the gifts He has given us and to share them with our brothers and sisters wherever we encounter them. We resolve to bloom where we are planted.<br /><br />Blessings always,<br />OwenOwen Phelpshttp://yeshualeader.comnoreply@blogger.com