A friend from my Netherlands retreat recommended Richard Rohr to me. She didn’t give me a specific book to read. I knew since Rohr was a religious writer, that the Chaplain would probably be able to help me out, so I asked him. Sure enough, he went over to his bookshelf, and brought me Breathing Underwater: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps.

I had reservations about characterizing Rohr as a religious author because that word has so much baggage. I want to tell you that if it is a heavy word for you, if it makes you feel angry, or defensive, take a breath and stay with me.

Supremely readable, yet well supported, this book has such a wonderful, open, but Biblical interpretation of what the gospel means. Like many other books I’ve read in the past year, this one felt like the natural next step on the path. I started and finished it on our trip to Tobago, and it actually worked for vacation reading – it communicates big ideas in a very accessible way.

There were so many parts that jumped out at me as the truth. Like the title suggests, the book takes the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and applies them to the message found in the Bible. Rohr doesn’t shy away from challenging the Church in the ways it has failed to live up to the plan Jesus presents to us in the gospels.

He communicates the message in the cultural context in which the Jews received it, using stories and passages from the Bible that are familiar to people of faith, but with a fresh perspective.

Breathing Underwater is a book I could read many times and keep getting more out of it. I’m already on the hunt for the next book by Rohr – there are a number of options, and I’m not yet sure which direction I’ll take.

While I’m hunting, read this one! Whether or not you have a good sense of what you believe, if you’re angry or suspicious of God, or if you feel you already have a living, growing faith, there is something in this book that will get your attention. No matter what your background, you may find yourself reexamining your way of thinking.

I was encouraged and challenged by this book, and I’m looking forward to working its ideas into my life.

Bless his heart, Four did all kinds of poses to help me get the right photo of this book out by the pool at the guest house the Chaplain’s family generously arranged for us.