Dancing from the Inside Out: Grace-Filled Reflections on Growing Older

Relatable essays focused primarily on being at a "certain stage of life" from a renowned speaker and author. This collection of essays about ordinary events invites the reader to reflect on how God can be found throughout life. Matthews offers a personal and authentic voice that resonates with a wide audience-particularly women-in an easily accessible and understandable manner. These timely reflections are in keeping with the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry's call to "live into being the Jesus Movement by committing to evangelism and the work of reconciliation- beginning with racial reconciliation . . . across the borders and boundaries that divide the human family of God." Through thoughtful, poignant, humorous, and authentic reflections-shared from her journal and weekly email blogs-Matthews invites the reader to redefine themselves. This book is a wonderful resource for personal reflection, and a great gift for colleagues, friends, and family members.

Table of Contents:
Dancing from the Inside Out Introduction 1. Dancing to Every Other Beat Getting from Here to There This Is What 60 or 70 or 80 Looks Like Trust Me It’s a Little Difficult, But We Must Learn The Better to Hear You, My Dear Calluses and Lip Gloss Where’s Joseph? One Leg at a Time 2. The Storms of Life Let It Be Kind to You Spanx or Squirrels? Fences, Borders, and Walls No More Bad News Transitions Yet to Come Stay Safe The News May Not Be Full of Joyful Tidings, But Merry Christmas Anyway 3. Fighting a Hard Battle The Gift That Cannot Be Regifted Groundhog Day Remember to Love An Act of Kindness Detergent, Mouthwash, and a Place to Lay One’s Head The Risk to Love The Simplicity of Choice If You’ve Lost, Give Up 4. The Arc of Justice The New Underground Railroad Staring Down the Bull Truth, Lies, and Consequences When Pigs Fly You People Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda How Should I Think about This? A Return to Decency 5. I Miss Who I Was Five Little Words Comfort Lovebugs I Want to Be Ready Kleenex, Toilet Paper, and Independence Until It’s Time With This Ring Waiting Faithfully The Decision 6. Stranger, Wanderer, or Friend First You Need a Bowl Friendships Somebody’s Mama’s Recipe Healed in the Presence of a Child Let Them Eat Cake Broken Pieces Two Cents’ Worth 7. The Thin Place Not by Sight God Rest ’Em To Forget or to Be Forgotten? Running Out of Time Between Two Worlds A Better Question Gubby’s Shirt Full Moon Alert 8. One Step Closer to God The Potter’s House The Kiss One Step Closer to God Holy Greens You Just Might Need This Something Greater Than You and I Finding God at Starbucks 9. Treasured Memories Those Were the Days Nana, Grandmother, and Big Momma One Stitch at a Time Summertime Now I Lay Me Sunday Ironing The Way We Were Here’s Grandma Airports, Santa, and Christmas 10. Remember to Breathe Spaces between the Lines This Is My Body Stop, Look Both Ways, Then Go Be Flexible, Celebrate the Journey, Remember to Breathe Family Reunion One Breath at a Time, One Moment at a Time And Now Our Minds Are One One Hundred Words What’s Next? Acknowledgments

About the Author :
WESTINA MATTHEWS is an adjunct professor for the Center for Christian Spirituality at General Theological Seminary where she has taught contemplative spiritual direction for several years. A graduate of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, Matthews is an author, public speaker, spiritual director and retreat leader whose practice reflects contemplative living through “holy listening.”

Review :
"This book is so much fun to read. Everything: the stories, the people, the history — it's a rooted, generous wisdom, willing to share itself." ––Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, author, The Courage to Grow Old "Dancing from the Inside Out is quintessential Westina Matthews—unsparingly honest, deep-down wise, and refreshingly trenchant...Though I'm a practicing Jew and Westina writes from her profound Christian faith, I gleaned many gifts from this book, not just inspiring advice about aging wisely but the pure pleasure of a story well told." ––Letty Cottin Pogrebin, co-founding editor of Ms. Magazine, author of eleven books, including Deborah, Golda, and Me: Being Female and Jewish in America "Matthews provides a candidly honest outline of life's lessons in these reflections as she lovingly weaves her engaged readers from beginning to end." ––David N. Dinkins, 106th Mayor, City of New York "Westina's courses at General are magnetic to students and others who are wise enough to study with her. There is no doubt that Dancing from the Inside Out will be equally attractive. A huge gift to the church." —The Very Rev. Kurt H. Dunkle, Dean and President, General Theological Seminary