Here, Lydia Sohn
Here, Lydia Sohn
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Here
A Spirituality of Staying in a Culture of Leaving

Author: Lydia Sohn

Narrator: Lydia Sohn

Unabridged: 5 hr 31 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/25/2025


Synopsis

A contemplative guide to finding satisfaction right where you are, by understanding what it is within us that leads to dissatisfaction and creating long-lasting fulfillment—inspired by the ancient Christian tradition of Benedictine stability.

“A challenging spiritual invitation—one that we definitely need.”—Shannon K. Evans, author of The Mystics Would Like a Word

Lydia Sohn was a serial burn-it-down-and-make-a-fresh-start girl until, when in her late twenties, she encountered the Rule of St. Benedict with its vow of stability, and her world was transformed. Sohn took a pause to consider what she wanted out of life—identity, purpose, community—and had a lightbulb moment: Everything she needed to live the life she desired was already within her reach.

Here pushes back against our age of constant reinvention and the cultural message that we should do whatever it takes to get wherever we want to go. Instead, Sohn’s message is the opposite: stay. Stay and cultivate the immense potential and beauty that currently lies dormant within your circumstances. 

Sohn understands the allure of nomadism. A nomadic life would protect us from the stress of relational conflicts that inevitably arise when we’re caught in the intricate web of commitments. But the restlessness, FOMO, and disappointment we’re trying to escape always come along for the journey. That’s because they’re not the result of our circumstances; they reside within us. 

Braiding personal narrative and spiritual reflection, Here inspires readers to both embrace and transform their circumstances through commitment and stability—in order that they might find true contentment right where they are.

About The Author

Rev. Lydia Sohn is a United Methodist minister, currently serving as senior pastor of Walnut United Methodist Church, and a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Christian Century, among other venues. She lives in Claremont, California with her husband and three children.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Richard on October 22, 2024

Are you happy right now? Are you happy with your relationships? Are you happy with your job? Are you happy in your home? Are you happy with your friends? Or are you getting that itch? Maybe a different partner would be better. Maybe it's time to try to move up in the world. Maybe a different city wou......more

Goodreads review by The Reading Raccoon on March 02, 2025

Thank you to PRH audio for my advanced copy. I read Here as the author is part of my local community and I was curious to see her writing. Although this is considered a more spiritual type of book I appreciated the message about finding contentment in your “home” wherever it is and building connecti......more

Goodreads review by Kim on November 11, 2024

Pastor Lydia Sohn's reflective writings in Here: A Spirituality of Staying in a Culture of Leaving gives the reader not only a personal glimpse into her life and culture, but also sheds light on a topic of staying instead of leaving. So much of our society today tends to leave, whether this is a job......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on January 25, 2025

I’ve been following Lydia Sohn for six years now after stumbling upon her absolutely by chance. Her calm, steadfast wisdom helped me tremendously through the pandemic so I was thrilled to read her debut book “Here: A Spirituality of Staying In A Culture of Leaving”. “Here” is based on the Benedictin......more

Goodreads review by Cheryl on January 06, 2025

Here A Spirituality of Staying in a Culture of Leaving by Lydia Sohn Genre: Christian/Self-Help Pages: 224 ISBN: 9780593727645 Publisher: Convergent Books Pub date: Feb. 25, 2025 Here has an interesting premise—practicing the Benedictine discipline of stability leads to fulfilment. It’s a pushback against......more


Quotes

“A challenging spiritual invitation—one that we definitely need . . . Beautifully and meditatively written, Here reveals the subtle ways we try to escape our lives, and it calls us back to the one life we’re given.”—Shannon K. Evans, author of The Mystics Would Like a Word