Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion

I strongly recommend this book.Her story is fascinating.

Food for the hungry, both in body and spirit, Sara Miles has told of her own conversion to Christianity. She was a middle aged woman who was reared by atheistic parents.She is a journalist who has traveled the world in wars and troubles and wherever she was, she was fed. Hunger was the need that bound people together.The common need of hunger caused coworkers and strangers to share whatever food was available.
When Sara, for no reason known to her, entered St. Gregory's Episcopal Church in San Francisco, she was given bread at communion. Her life changed.
This is an excellent read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Power of Feeding

A liberal woman with a plethora of life experiences finds herself, and I would say her very soul, in the simple act of feeding and eating. Though her narrative, one can really see Miles' recurring theme of feeding others. It can be seen in a variety of ways, but what she eventually finds is that while her call to feed others permeates her life and is her driving force, at the same time she also needs to be fed. It is through many experiences that culminates in one of the most powerful Communion experiences I have ever heard/read.
This book is by far, one of the best memoirs that I have read. Miles is instantly relatable and a fantastic writer. Through the sharing of her experiences she causes one to look back on one's own journey and see what spiritual hand has been played in their lives. She also has helped me to view communion and the act of feeding others as esteemed and holy an act as they should be!

This is a great book, easy to read, and you won't want to put it down! You may not agree with her "theology", but you can't debate her experiences and where those experiences led her! Two thumbs up and 5 stars to Sara Miles!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book made me a better Christian-- and a better volunteer.

I've been told by several friends, Christian and non-Christian, that the best (or even only) way for a Christian to make others WANT to convert is to lead by example. Miles' narrative, in which she converts to Christianity, becomes part of an active church, and then leads others to reach out and build a food bank for the community, is not only a single Christian's story. It's an example that shows us all what we're capable of being and how anyone can be changed by the power of belief and inspiration.

One point Ms. Miles makes is that it's important not only for us to help others, but that even the poorest person NEEDS to be able to give help as well as receive it. I've been inspired by this book to join my own church's Benevolence group and I'm helping brainstorm ways for us to help the community as a whole better-- and, I hope, to share our own talents and abilities to help those we help to give something forward.

Ms. Miles also shares, very briefly, that many Christians have different beliefs on some issues of sin, but that regardless of those beliefs, we all ought to work together to help each other. One difference that comes up briefly is that Ms. Miles is a lesbian, and continues to have a warm relationship with her partner, who accepts and confirms her Christianity without any desire to convert; and some of those whose work helps with the food bank believe (unlike Ms. Miles) that this is wrong of her to do. Despite this very personal difference, those who disagree are presented simply as Christians with different opinions, not as terrible people or enemies.

This is a warm and loving book that should be read by anyone who wants to learn more about the Christian charity tradition-- with the warning that it may make you want to volunteer yourself!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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