Living Loved
Peter Wallace
Seabury Books
ISBN: 9781596270657
Reviewed By Paula Parker
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Living Loved
is a compilation of moving devotionals all centered on one unifying
theme: love. In his collection, Peter Wallace offers an in-depth
analysis of the biblical Gospel Of John, the reason being that John was
considered to be the most loved of all the disciples of Jesus Christ.
As such, John is naturally assumed to have the greatest insight into
the nature and various dimensions of Christ's perspective on love.
Each
devotional expounds on a particular passage from the book of John,
providing a holistic overview of the true meaning behind each chapter
and verse. Considering the concept of love from all angles, Wallace's
interpretations invite the reader to explore the value of a deeper
relationship with God, made manifest through the love of Christ, as a
balm to the ails that afflict us everyday. Consider this comment by
Wallace as testament to that fact:
"Within
each soul there is a thirst for love that sometimes feels deeper and
broader and more tumultuous than a stormy ocean. At times our lives
seem merely to be an ongoing, frantic effort to satisfy that thirst, to
quench it with one puny cupful of saltwater after another...yet these
efforts come nowhere close to filling the ocean of need within each
heart. Those puny cupfuls of saltwater are actually filled with our
tears."
One may think that Wallace's observations would
border on proselytizing, but he does an outstanding job of presenting
his positions objectively, considering equally the multifarious nature
of love in all its various forms, from sacrifice to service to
obedience to guidance and beyond. As a proviso, he even goes into
detail regarding the potential consequences that await us should we
choose to deny that which is freely available to us all.
Bolstered
by instructional anecdotes, as well as the enduring wisdom of biblical
parables, Wallace's opus is an invaluable guide to developing a greater
appreciation for a seemingly simple concept that many struggle to
embrace everyday. For those who desire to gain a more firm
comprehension of the universal constant of love, Living Loved is a highly recommended starting point.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Peter Wallace (Living Loved)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Peter, as well as for the opportunity to review Living Loved. We greatly appreciate it.
What inspired you to compose such a moving account of developing a healthier spiritual bond with God?
Peter Wallace: Living Loved has its genesis when I was going through a very difficult personal time in my life, and frankly I wasn't feeling very loving or lovable. I had made some major mistakes in some very important relationships and was trying to work through it all with people who were very important to me. During that difficult time I was drawn to the Gospel of John, because I recalled an image recorded in it that's rather hidden but very profound. During the Last Supper in the Upper Room, just before Judas is revealed as the betrayer of Jesus, John -- the supposed writer of the gospel, who frequently referred to himself as "the disciple Jesus loved" -- is seen reclining on Jesus' chest as they ate together. He was in a position of loving security and acceptance near his master's heart. And that was the place I yearned to be. So I began to trace the concept of living as one who is as loved as John felt he was through the gospel that bears his name, drawing on examples from my life and other events, in order to help us all -- myself included -- to know, experience, and share the love God is so eager to lavish on us.
AR: In the book, you offer great advice regarding everyday practices designed to grow closer to God's love. These suggested practices seem simple, but do you think many people who read the book will have difficulty applying them in their daily lives?
PW: If those readers are like me, and I suspect most of them are, it's not really a matter of knowing WHAT to do in terms of meditation, prayer, serving others, etc. Those are standard disciplines of any faith that have been around for millennia. The problem in my case, and I bet in many others', is being intentional about it -- making it a priority to spend time in thoughtful reading and meditation and prayer, carving out the time from our busy schedules and purposefully setting aside all the things that are fighting for our attention, clearing our minds so we can focus and listen to the inner voice of love. It's really a choice: will we open our hearts and lives to love, with the goal of sharing that love with others? Or will we remain so busy and closed up that we miss what could be some of the most beautiful experiences of our lives?
AR: What made you center the book on the Gospel of John?
PW: John's gospel is very different from the other three gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. Those three tend to tell a more straightforward historical story and usually line up pretty neatly. John was apparently written much later, purportedly by the young disciple we know as John (or at least possibly informed by his tradition). It's a very deep, meaningful, spiritual, often confusing and mind-blowing account of Jesus' life and ministry, but it's marked indelibly by love. The fact that this disciple frequently refers to himself as "the disciple Jesus loved" intrigued me. I wanted to know, if he felt that way, is it possible that I could feel that way too? Not that I'm any better than anyone else... far from it. But I wanted to understand how he came to that conclusion internally, and see if I could apply it and share it through this book to others.
AR: Likewise, why do you think John is considered the most loved of all the disciples of Christ?
PW: To be truthful, I doubt that any of the other disciples felt that John WAS the most loved. John claimed that description for himself. And I wonder if in some way they all didn't feel that Jesus loved them in a special, personal way. But the fact that John considered himself the one Jesus loved most is indeed telling. Commentators have argued the meaning of that for centuries, and we may never know what is meant by that self-identification. All I know is that I wanted to see if I could experience the love of Christ as John did, even as he lay close to the Lord's heart in that Upper Room. There are, though, some hints that there was some jealousy; in the book I talk about one of those when Peter asks Jesus -- after the resurrection -- what would happen to John. Jesus rather jumps on Peter saying, essentially, that that was none of his business. But all in all, I have a feeling that John felt especially close to Jesus in a way that all of us can, if we open ourselves to it.
AR: What, if anything, would you to say to naysayers who may question the validity/applicability of your writings?
PW: I am very open minded and truly believe that there are many ways to know and experience the spiritual realm. I personally have benefited from a variety of writings from numerous religious traditions. My personal view is that I want to have an open mind when I approach any spiritual writings, see what resonates within me, what makes sense, what ennobles me or urges me to reach out in meaningful service to others. I would hope that anyone reading my book would come to it with the same open-minded, discerning approach. I certainly don't claim to have the answers. I just hope to help us all struggle with some of the most important questions in life, and see what happens as a result.
AR: What's the main message you want readers to take from Living Loved?
PW: Essentially, that each of us is loved by God in a unique, empowering way, that we're meant to know that we are loved, experience that love, and possibly most important of all, share that love with others.
AR: You're the host and executive producer of Day1, an influential radio ministry. Have you shared tidbits of the book with your listening audience? If so, what have their reactions been?
PW: Our Day1 radio program (available online at www.Day1.org ) presents guest ministers from around the country who serve in mainline Protestant churches. It's a treat to interview them for the program and our podcasts. We do share insights from the book from time to time in our conversations. A number of people have already read the book and have expressed very positive responses. They say they find the personal experiences I share and the warm, conversational tone to be very helpful as they wrestle with the issue of God's love for them personally as well. I guess one of the highest praises I received is from my daughter, who told me she likes the book very much because she understands it!
AR: You're quite the accomplished author. What's next for you?
PW: I've just signed a contract with my current publisher, Church Publishing/Morehouse/Seabury, to write my eighth devotional book, this one based on the book of Psalms. The Psalms were songs of worship created and used by the Israelites, and they are filled with all the emotions all humans experience in their lives, in their relationships, in their quest for God. I'm looking forward to writing this as I always find spending time in the Psalms to be a healthy, vibrant way to experience connection with God. This book should be out in early 2009.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
PW: It's an honor to share these ideas with the readers. I consider myself a pilgrim along with each of them, and I hope that my writing can help them further along the way to knowing God better -- and experiencing and sharing God's love more fully.
AR: Thanks again, Peter, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
PW: Thank you very much!