Finding Freedom in Constraint
Reimagining Spiritual Disciplines as a Communal Way of Life

Enjoyed this book on many levels since I met the author as an earnest seventh grader in my English class and grew to know him better as a junior in high school. I am unsurprised to see him authoring books and leading others since his talent, love for words and complex ideas, and his commitment to Je......more

Summary: Proposes that constraints in terms of spiritual practices in the context of community, expose our inner desires, allowing them to be healed and formed by Christ. You might do a double-take on the title of this book. Shouldn’t it read “Finding Freedom From Constraint”? There is no mistake her......more

The author’s voice is gentle and loving. I liked the stories he shared from his own life as a father. There is a tenderness and a tone that evokes a father’s desire to impart blessings to a daughter. I appreciate his use of metaphors to express spiritual concepts, viewing constraints as a furnace th......more

I listened to the audiobook version, read by the author. Recommend it! Jared's warmth and kindness help soften the otherwise rough edges that some might encounter in a book about constraint--a topic that runs counter to the native construct of "freedom" many of us carry, the idea of doing whatever w......more

Rule of life. Spiritual direction. Monastiscm. In some corners of the church, these words are growing in popularity. Jared’s book paints a picture of how we can practice a rule of life—not as a means of self-actualization (which we’d rarely admit, but in our western, independent culture, the temptat......more