Things That Matter Most: Essays on Home, Friendship, and Love
Have you forgotten how wondrous life can be? Christopher de Vinck offers a timeless collection of wisdom on family, childhood, God, love, compassion, buttered toast, snowmen, Hamlet, Bugs Bunny, bees.  

For anyone who is caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, weary and perhaps a little jaded by all that seems wrong in the world, this is a book that helps us to see again. 

In essays that are warm, evocative, and often amusing, Christopher De Vinck gives us back the eyes of a child, the fresh vision of delight, and a renewed reminder that we are surrounded with awe that we often take for granted. This is a book about living with a perpetual array of treasures: the voices of people we love, the taste of marzipan, the sounds of October geese. This is a book that reminds us to look, smell, see, touch, and listen to what is revealed to us each morning. Chris invites us to realize life as we live it, every minute.

Reflecting on the joys of family, writing, and education, Chris doesn’t shy away from loneliness, disappointments and regrets. His is a voice that combines both the joys and sorrows of living, speaking with hope and acceptance, and celebrating the power of simplicity in our modern age.

"In his classic book The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry famously suggested that ‘it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.’ With the elegance of a poet, the wonder of child-like eyes, and the discipline of one who steadfastly pays attention to the world around and within him, Christopher de Vinck’s Things That Matter Most helps us see with our hearts—to see rightly—those things that are essential to a life well-lived: A place to truly call home, friends who sustain and nurture one another, and the love of a God who knows us as children of great worth.” —Jeff Crosby, author of Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our Hearts  

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Things That Matter Most: Essays on Home, Friendship, and Love
Have you forgotten how wondrous life can be? Christopher de Vinck offers a timeless collection of wisdom on family, childhood, God, love, compassion, buttered toast, snowmen, Hamlet, Bugs Bunny, bees.  

For anyone who is caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, weary and perhaps a little jaded by all that seems wrong in the world, this is a book that helps us to see again. 

In essays that are warm, evocative, and often amusing, Christopher De Vinck gives us back the eyes of a child, the fresh vision of delight, and a renewed reminder that we are surrounded with awe that we often take for granted. This is a book about living with a perpetual array of treasures: the voices of people we love, the taste of marzipan, the sounds of October geese. This is a book that reminds us to look, smell, see, touch, and listen to what is revealed to us each morning. Chris invites us to realize life as we live it, every minute.

Reflecting on the joys of family, writing, and education, Chris doesn’t shy away from loneliness, disappointments and regrets. His is a voice that combines both the joys and sorrows of living, speaking with hope and acceptance, and celebrating the power of simplicity in our modern age.

"In his classic book The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry famously suggested that ‘it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.’ With the elegance of a poet, the wonder of child-like eyes, and the discipline of one who steadfastly pays attention to the world around and within him, Christopher de Vinck’s Things That Matter Most helps us see with our hearts—to see rightly—those things that are essential to a life well-lived: A place to truly call home, friends who sustain and nurture one another, and the love of a God who knows us as children of great worth.” —Jeff Crosby, author of Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our Hearts  

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Things That Matter Most: Essays on Home, Friendship, and Love

Things That Matter Most: Essays on Home, Friendship, and Love

by Christopher de Vinck
Things That Matter Most: Essays on Home, Friendship, and Love

Things That Matter Most: Essays on Home, Friendship, and Love

by Christopher de Vinck

Paperback

$18.00 
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Overview

Have you forgotten how wondrous life can be? Christopher de Vinck offers a timeless collection of wisdom on family, childhood, God, love, compassion, buttered toast, snowmen, Hamlet, Bugs Bunny, bees.  

For anyone who is caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, weary and perhaps a little jaded by all that seems wrong in the world, this is a book that helps us to see again. 

In essays that are warm, evocative, and often amusing, Christopher De Vinck gives us back the eyes of a child, the fresh vision of delight, and a renewed reminder that we are surrounded with awe that we often take for granted. This is a book about living with a perpetual array of treasures: the voices of people we love, the taste of marzipan, the sounds of October geese. This is a book that reminds us to look, smell, see, touch, and listen to what is revealed to us each morning. Chris invites us to realize life as we live it, every minute.

Reflecting on the joys of family, writing, and education, Chris doesn’t shy away from loneliness, disappointments and regrets. His is a voice that combines both the joys and sorrows of living, speaking with hope and acceptance, and celebrating the power of simplicity in our modern age.

"In his classic book The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry famously suggested that ‘it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.’ With the elegance of a poet, the wonder of child-like eyes, and the discipline of one who steadfastly pays attention to the world around and within him, Christopher de Vinck’s Things That Matter Most helps us see with our hearts—to see rightly—those things that are essential to a life well-lived: A place to truly call home, friends who sustain and nurture one another, and the love of a God who knows us as children of great worth.” —Jeff Crosby, author of Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our Hearts  


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781640607385
Publisher: Paraclete Press
Publication date: 10/25/2022
Pages: 176
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 7.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christopher de Vinck, husband, father, and grandfather, earned his doctoral degree from Columbia University and devoted 40 years to his career in public education. He is the author of countless essays for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, National Catholic Reporter, Dallas Morning News, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, and Good Housekeeping, and thirteen books including the bestselling The Power of the Powerless: A Brother’s Lesson of Love about his severely disabled brother Oliver and the difference Oliver made in this sometimes jaded world. 

De Vinck’s books have won two Christopher Awards, the 2021 Illumination Book Award’s Gold Medal in the category of Christian Living, and “Best Column” by the National Catholic Press Association. He still believes in Santa Claus.

Table of Contents

Foreword 7

Introduction 9

Part 1 Fireflies

What Matters Most 15

My Spiritual Neighbor 19

Fireflies 25

Back to the Beach 28

July 4th 30

Into the Woods 33

Precious 36

Board Game 39

Passion 42

Good Bones 45

Bathing in the Waterfall 47

Part 2 Compassionate Hearts

Persistence 51

At the Tip of My Finger 55

Smart Days 58

Compassionate Hearts 61

The Wounded Soul 64

The Gift of the Five Senses 67

The Ache of Alone 71

Sign in Please 74

Pencil with on Eraser is a Sign of Humility 77

The Light of My Sons 81

Boo! 84

Thanksgiving 86

Part 3 The Wisdom of Humility

Dreams of Santiago 91

The Wisdom of Humility 95

Who Are You? 97

The Treasures within Us 100

Real Men 103

Embrace Passion 107

Holy Sounds 110

Invention 113

Hunger 117

Keeping Time 120

Part 4 Where is Long Ago?

Where is Long Ago? 125

Spring 129

Bugs, Bugs, and More Bugs 132

Stubborn Spring 135

Home Is in the Arms of a Lover 138

Poet as Fox 141

Jack-in-the-Box 144

Beauty Found 147

Inspiration Doesn't Knock, But Whispers 151

True Power 155

Wanting to Be Liked 158

Monsters 161

Part 5 Ordinary and Extraordinary

It Was a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood 167

Roman Holiday 170

Ordinary and Extraordinary 173

The Writer's Voice 177

Wake Up 180

The Illusions of War 183

Can You See? 186

Look Closely 189

Affirmative 192

Balm to Our Souls 195

Conclusion 199

Sources 203

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