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Author Watts shares religious reflections composed during the isolation invoked by the COVID crisis when seclusion stirred her to keep a spiritual journal. The eighteen central issues covered begin by exploring the meaning of scripture, referencing the Holy Bible as a “unified text” for those wishing to strengthen their Christian faith and those discovering God’s “milk” for the first time. Each section is creatively arrayed with biblical quotations and short tales of ordinary people trying to grasp the meaning of God’s truth in daily life.
Topics examined include witnessing, accountability, prayer, and perhaps most significantly, a multifaceted portrait of Jesus—who he truly is and what he offers for all. The author’s more than 200 profound essays are accompanied by photographs depicting a wide range of subjects. For example, in a segment treating with integrity, she includes a picture of Kentucky’s State Capital building, while an entry about God’s love offers small pictorial vignettes of familial and friendly embraces among persons of differing ages, genders, nationalities, and skin color. In a final “Thank You,” Watts urges readers to keep growing spiritually and help others to do so.
The author felt at first oppressed by the lack of direct contact with others during the pandemic but was then inspired to make the best of the sudden solitude by using her obvious writing gifts. Reaching out to friends by email, she discovered that her efforts were gratifyingly fruitful, starting a communication chain that ultimately resulted in this enlightening volume. She deftly melds family experience, folk tales, and newsworthy topics into religious messages, clearly demonstrating her conviction and her wish to share that strength with readers. Her book will undoubtedly be used by Bible study groups for lively discussion and appreciated by individuals seeking sources of meditation and motivation.