Cure for the Common Life

Cure for the Common Life

by Max Lucado
Nashville, TN: W Publishing Group, 2005

Reviewed by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

"Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot" offers career counseling for those who want to make the most of the gifts God gave them. Max Lucado, a Texas minister and best-selling author, challenges us to view our work as a spiritual calling. "[God] ordained your work as something good. Before he gave Adam a wife or a child, even before he gave Adam britches, God gave Adam a job."

Lucado emphasizes that God gave us all the gifts we need to do the job he created especially for us. He encourages readers to make a thorough assessment of their gifts and inclinations. Lucado includes a useful personal inventory - "The Sweet Spot Discovery Guide" - at the conclusion of the book to help his audience do just that.

A key point of "Cure for the Common Life" is that the work we do is our gift back to God. Our work is sacred and should be done for an "audience of One" who sees all and knows all. "What if everyone worked with God in mind? Suppose no one worked to satisfy self or please the bottom line, but everyone worked to please God." It certainly would make for some interesting changes. While we might not be able to change the whole world, we can begin by changing our own attitude.

Another useful chapter is directed toward parents. "Each year God gives millions of parents a gift, a brand-new baby. They tend to expect oranges, cellos, and plumbing tools. Heaven tends to distribute tomatoes, accordions, and paint supplies. Moms and dads face a decision. Make our children in our images? Or release our children to follow their God-given identities?" Lucado encourages parents to really study their children to discover where their God-given gifts lie and then encourage them accordingly.

"Cure for the Common Life" is a wonderful book, brimming with helpful advice and a fresh outlook on the role of work in our lives.

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is editor of Spiritual Woman. Visit her blog at http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com



© Spiritual Woman Press, 2005. All rights reserved.