“Herein lies support for your deepest self…. [I]n the ordinary aspects of life there is an extraordinary way to live.” —Phileena Nikole, author of Pilgrimage of a Soul
“Mark Longhurst has written what I’ve been waiting for.” —Brian D. McLaren, author of Faith After Doubt
This book takes inspiration from mystics, modern prophets, and saints, with surprising insights from Christian scriptures. “Mysticism is a stream of the experiential, flowing from the hearts of those who knew and know God,” explains Mark Longhurst, demonstrating the availability to every person of a mystical life.
Through topics such as “How to be contemplative and active” and “Live green like Hildegard of Bingen,” Longhurst speaks to each person’s need for transformation. His book is both profound and practical, a reflective guide for Nones, Dones, former Christians, and Christians open to learning from people of all backgrounds seeking a vibrant, just, and inclusive spirituality.
The Holy Ordinary: A Way to God (Paperback, 180 pp.; ISBN 978-1958972519; US $18.99) is being published by Monkfish on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Distributed by Consortium Book Sales & Distribution.
“Mark shines light onto our most ordinary moments so that we can find the divine nestled in the middle of it all, which turns out to be God’s favorite hiding place.” —Mirabai Starr, author of Wild Mercy
“In this wonderful book, Mark Longhurst shares a message that is dear to my heart. In a Christ-soaked world, we meet God in our actual and ordinary lives—how could it be otherwise?” —Richard Rohr, bestselling author of The Universal Christ
A launch event will be held online on October 24 at 7pm ET sponsored by the Center for Spiritual Imagination. It will be a conversation with author led by Adam Bucko, director of the Center, and Kris Coleman, program director. To join this event, register at https://www.spiritualimagination.org/events/the-holy-ordinary/.
For author interviews and review copies, contact jon@monkfishpublishing.com.
Mark Longhurst is a writer and “ordinary mystic.” He’s a member of the new monastic Community of the Incarnation and works as the publications manager at the Center for Action and Contemplation. A former pastor, he served United Church of Christ churches for ten years and worked as a faith-based social justice activist in the Boston area for ten more. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School and a longtime yoga-practitioner, he runs two Substack newsletters at marklonghurst.substack.com. Mark lives in western Massachusetts with his family.