When your life has revolved around bigger and better and faster, it’s hard to slow down. That pretty much describes most of us born and raised in the west, especially in the United States. Shauna Niequist is no different. Growing up in a mega church and then joining the staff of that church, there were plenty of expectations on her. She walked into those expectations and lived up to them even to the point of exhaustion and not enjoying the life she had created for herself.

If you can identify with racing and running and making everything perfect, but never being present to the most important people in your life, then you’ll appreciate the direction Faith Conversations takes this week. And if you are looking for the answer to that way of life, you’ll find some answers in the middle of the podcast.

Shauna Niequist has written what might be called her most vulnerable book yet. Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living takes us into a four-year journey Shauna embarked on to make substantial changes to her life. Spiritual practices are at the center of this shift and you might appreciate the ones Shauna used and find them helpful in your own journey toward a more sane way of life. I recommend Present Over Perfect, and I hope you enjoy this week’s episode of Faith Conversations.