Authentic Living in All Seasons: Focused, Fearless, and Balanced

by Walt Shelton

Overview

Enhance your life and faith journey by focusing on today, not allowing fear to block your aspirations, and consistently working to identify, refine, and balance your priorities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633574168
Publisher:	Crosslink Publishing
Publication date:	06/07/2022
Pages:	165
Sales rank:	938,052
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Walt Shelton is the author of the Nautilus Award winning The Daily Practice of Life: Practical Reflections Toward Meaningful Living (CrossLink Publishing 2020). He is one of the most read faith columnists in Texas, a frequent speaker, discussion group leader, and a longtime Professor at Baylor Law School.

Table of Contents

Testimonials i

Foreword 1

Preface 7

Part I Focused, Fearless, and Balanced Living 11

Chapter 1 Key Components of Qualitative Living 13

Chapter 2 Mindfulness: Focused Attention on Now 25

Chapter 3 Avoiding The Stagnation of "Being Afraid" 35

Chapter 4 Balancing Life Priorities Through Periodic Self-Reflection 41

Part II Practical Reflections and Meditations 45

Chapter 1 Acceptance While Endeavoring to Change for the Better 47

Chapter 2 Christians and Jewish Holy Days 51

Chapter 3 Authentic Light in a New Year 55

Chapter 4 Flow Should We Approach and Interpret the Bible? 57

Chapter 5 A Rich, Humble, and Potentially Misunderstood Easter Model 61

Chapter 6 A Different View of Paradise Now-It's Our Choice 65

Chapter 7 Does 1 + 1 + 1 Equal 2? 69

Chapter 8 The Pursuit of Justice: An Active Expression of Love and Inclusivity 73

Chapter 9 Additional Focus on Jewish High Holy Days 77

Chapter 10 How a Systematic Approach Enhances Consistent Qualitative Living 81

Chapter 11 We Should Care About Everyone 85

Chapter 12 Learning From Experience: The Universal Teacher 89

Chapter 13 One Thematic Word for Daily Emphasis and Living 93

Chapter 14 God's Plan Is the Same for Everyone 97

Chapter 15 Character 101

Chapter 16 What Truly Matters? 105

Chapter 17 Jesus Is Synonymous with Social Justice 109

Chapter 18 Tribalism Was the Real "Fall" of Mankind: It Is High Time for Us to Get Up 113

Chapter 19 Hope Is Potential That Can Be Realized 117

Chapter 20 Mentoring as an Expression of Light and Love 121

Appendix 1 Mindfulness: Religious Roots and Select Clinical Observations 125

Appendix 2 Practical Considerations: Developing New Habits 131

Bibliography 137

Acknowledgements 139

About the Author 141

Editorial Reviews

In my experience, Walt Shelton embodies the highest of character traits. I appreciate his insights on living a life of authenticity and meaning because Walt knows how easy it is to lose yourself in the hustle and bustle of the modern world. Despite this, he has continuously reexamined what is meaningful in life. In Authentic Living in All Seasons, Walt has refined his part-parable, part-autobiographical style of writing to extend a hand to the reader and say, I know the path of life is hard, but maybe my story can help you in yours. No matter who you are, where you are from, or what you believe, Walt’s words break through all the divides to envision a life of love, kindness, compassion, and care for everyone.

Brock Lewis

It is rare to find a book that genuinely feels as though it is meant for everyone. Authentic Living in All Seasons is among those rarities. Like Walt himself, the book embraces readers from all walks of life. Though the book is centered around the Christian faith, it certainly does not exclude a non-Christian audience. Instead, the book encourages a sense of community and oneness among its readers. It advocates for positivity with purpose and provides a refreshing perspective on daily living. Additionally, the style and tone of the writing bring a sense of warmth to the reader that is unique to Walt Shelton’s work. Walt’s passion for life and love of humanity is clear from the first few pages. Walt Shelton himself is an inspiration, and his work is no exception.

McKenzie Speich

I met Walt Shelton when he taught me at Baylor Law School. Since the moment I met him, he has been a wellspring of wisdom, knowledge, and virtue. I am proud to have said that I took as many classes with him as I could. I am prouder now of the privilege to call him a friend.

I am as much a student of his now as I was in law school because of these profound books he has created. His first book, The Daily Practice of Life: Practical Reflections Toward Meaningful Living, struck a real chord for me, and I only read it in law school. However, in the “real world,” the legal profession can be fraught with spiritual onslaught to the point where many lawyers feel completely spiritually bankrupt. There is a dearth of guided spiritual nourishment for the legal community, and it truly shows. Authentic Living in All Seasons brings us some necessary reflection and guidance for a profession that is expected to have all the answers to peoples’ problems. And it points the finger at something that every lawyer and other person has control over: themselves. The need for introspection and personal inventory that Walt’s Part I calls for from the get-go is echoed in his first book in some respects, but it now calls for a more nuanced journey toward spiritual self-care.

Wyatt E. Fraga

Walt is the person I think of when naming a "model" human being. He truly does walk the walk and it inevitably influences all of those around him. Authentic Living in All Seasons is no different. Walt takes you through the “why” of authentic and principled living, and then provides short perspectives on how we can apply it to our daily lives. Every time I open one of Walt Shelton’s works, I know I am going to be motivated to view life in a more positive and directed manner. Walt also doesn't leave anyone out. While Walt is open about his Christian faith, his books are not limited to a Christian audience. With Walt’s inclusivity, he encourages all of us to be more open-minded, community-based, and to realize that "God's plan" is really just one and the same for us all.

Zoë Fedde

In Authentic Living in All Seasons, Walt's own lifestyle is evident as he considers what it means to live, in a practical sense, and he encourages his readers to do the same. Walt's emphasis on justice as a crucial part of our expression of our faith, and his model of principled, qualitative, and mindful living is essential for all Christians. Additionally, his practical and systematic approach makes authentic living feel not only attainable, but also imperative for the life of both individual Christians and the church at large.

Masyn Evans-Clements

God absolutely uses Walt Shelton as a vessel for His teachings. Walt’s first book, The Daily Practice of Life, is a moving account of Walt’s life experiences and perspectives on incorporating faith-based principles into a daily routine. My husband and I both read The Daily Practice of Life like a devotional and had many thought-provoking discussions regarding its contents. Walt’s latest book, Authentic Living in All Seasons, is so deeply personal and relatable that it makes you feel seen and understood. But perhaps most importantly, his book is soul inspiring in such a way that it evokes a call to action to be the best versions of ourselves. The book takes on a wide range of complicated topics—from inclusiveness and social justice to suffering, to name a few—and provides a subtle yet dynamic, biblical perspective for evaluating these topics. The book provides a much-needed solution-oriented focus, a refreshing approach in a world that seems to often dwell on the negative. Walt points to an abundance of Scripture to illustrate just how beautiful the day-to-day bustle of life is and shows that even the “little things” we do for others can have an impact. Authentic Living in All Seasons is the perfect book for those that want a deep and reflective study of faith and meaningful living.

Kristen Fancher

I have known Walt Shelton since my high school years as a friend. Now I get to know him as an author! Walt’s first book, The Daily Practice of Life: Practical Reflections Toward Meaningful Living, is an insightful and meaningful guide to important and relevant topics that are part of daily living. In this his second book, Authentic Living in All Seasons: Focused, Fearless, and Balanced, Walt continues to lead readers to think deeply about the choices we make as we walk the paths of our lives. Walt introduces new and important topics. He encourages and challenges me and all of us to think about our respective personal journeys in clear, concise, and meaningful prose. Mindfulness, fear, personal change, and balance are just a few of the subjects that he guides the reader to embrace with a combination of seriousness, humor, clarity, and sincerity.

Mary Lu Breshears