{"product_id":"9781946801050","title":"Soul Care: The Lenten Model","description":"\u003cp\u003eSoul care, said Socrates, was the most important activity a human could do. It was far more important than such common human concerns as the desire for money or honor (“likes” on Facebook?). \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSocrates demonstrated by example what he meant by soul care: 1) a realistic attitude about death, 2) the importance of an examined life, 3) recognition of the limits of human understanding, and 4) the responsibility of being a good citizen. As this book tries to show, these Socratic themes are very similar to the three Lenten practices: fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLent begins on Ash Wednesday—a stark reminder of mortality and the importance of focusing on things that really matter. Fasting, though traditionally associated with food, has a broader meaning of refraining from any and all impediments to spiritual development. Almsgiving is a practice made necessary by the interconnectedness of the human community. Prayer is the practice of recognizing what I call the “framing Mystery” of our lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThough nothing in the book is inconsistent with the Christian practices as I have understood and lived them, the intent of the book is to describe the essentials of soul care in such a way as to engage the reader. It is hoped that this engagement will lead to the sort of examined life that Socrates said was so essential. Come. See for yourself!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Toplink Publishing, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47044434821360,"sku":"9781946801050","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781946801050_p0.jpg?v=1763798055","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781946801050","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}