Now and Then: A Memoir of Vocation

I ordered a new copy as it was to be a gift. It is in new condition so I’m very satisfied.

I have found a new friend in the books written by Frederick Buechner-- a new and an old friend at one and the same time, because it feels like I know this man in his struggles to find the truth about his life, his chosen vocation, but most especially, about himself. This work reveals an extraordinary courage to set those gems of found truth before us in all his own vulnerability and doubts and crooked path through dark woods and chapels perilous! For a beautiful light shines through his words every now and then, and I see it is not just the light that helps him find his way, but a light that helps me continue on, finding mine as well. I feel he is a wonderful new/old friend who was never there until I recently started reading his work, and yet who was always there! What a rare treasure in a world that seems to have lost the human touch, and the idea of sacred companionship.Now and Then is the fourth book of his I am now familiar with, and like the others : The Sacred Journey: Telling Secrets: and Listening to Your Life, I own and treasure them as I ones I personally own. I am also so glad to know there are many more yet to read, which is like having a whole series of wonderful events ahead that one can be certain to know will be accompanied by a dear and valued friend. We have never met in person, and aren’t very likely too, now. It’s late in my life, as it is late in his, too, that I should come to feel I know this person. But there is no time between us as one comes to touch upon something in his books that I can only call “eternal”.Every Now and Then is subtitled “a memoir of vocation”. It’s obvious that he felt a very real calling to enter the Union Theological seminary to become an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church, but what that “calling” was going to ask of him was something he could not have imagined in his wildest dreams, and his path of learning and understanding in the end had little to do with what was in the curriculum of his studies, and great deal more to do with his actual life! Every major experience with other people, ordinary people, not particularly “godly” people either, became such key events in his thinking, that eventually he comes to realise that everything we experience in life is a “key experience”. “Listen to your life”, he says: “All moments are key moments.” It’s a matter of how present and awake we are to the ordinariness and dailiness of it; that we don’t fall asleep, but see into the deeper meanings. Life itself is the ultimate truth, the ultimate meaning, whether you are a so-called “Christian” or not, whether you are from East Harlem or Harvard. Dare to read this book and you will be bound to see something of yourself you haven’t seen before, and feel redeemed in your doubts as much as in any assertians of faith.Shelagh Cosgrove,May 30th 2016

No one else writes quite like the late Frederick Buechner, and this little volume is a wonderful addition to anyone's Buechner collection.

I overnighted this book hoping that it would help in the preparation of a sermon. I enjoy many writings of Buechner, but found this to only be average. I read the book in 1 afternoon. It is a very simple read. As the title states, this book is a memoir. Buechner recalls his days in seminary, in his vocation, and now in his 'retirement'. The stories are simplistic with little reflection.All in all, the book paints a charming picture of this godly man. But it will hardly challenge the reader.

Words wisely spoken and a delight to read about the life of an ordinary man who speaks extraordinary truths.

I always see Buechner quotes but have had a hard time getting into his novels. This book is great, as a distillation of his writing, and now I am also enjoying some of his full-length works.

I have most of his books, and am always in awe of his ability to inject humor and wit when discussing the most serious of topics. He has away of poking gentle fun both at others and himself, all while voicing some deep, universal truths in a fresh way. I love this guy, and highly recommend his books.

Such a wonderful reflection on life. There is no one like Buechner to call us to attention and appreciation.

This is the first Frederick Buechner book I have read and I found his writing style to be both gentle and profound. He is very honest about his feelings as he recounts his own story which is a sometimes glaring omission in some 'spiritual books'. In short I enjoyed it and will be reading more by this author.

Good product speedy service

The book arrived right on the day predicted and it is in good shape. I'm very happy with it for the price. :)