Even if you’re not really into the God thing, Howard Hanger has a way with biblical passages and spiritual philosophy. The founder of interfaith church Jubilee! Community (along with music business Jazz Fantasy and the Hanger Hall School for Girls) talks about faith the way a cool uncle would offer advice about baseball games and school dances.
“We’re all star-dust, you know. Made of the same hoohah,” he imparts in his just released book, Drink Deeply with Delight: Weekly Meditations (Lobster Press, 2007). “Some of us are dustier than others, albeit we’re part and parcel of everything out there in the Milky Way.”
The titular drinking metaphor is borrowed from Isaiah 66:11 (“That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”), and Hanger runs with it. Referencing spiritual inquiry (not happy hour), he suggests to his readers, “Pick your drink,” “Find a drinking hole,” “Offer a drink to someone” and “Get a drinking buddy.” The author presents himself as that companion, with his judgment-free, conversational text and suggestions on such themes as compassion, clarity, trust and transformation.
If at first this device seems hokey, the simplicity of Drink‘s message quickly makes itself known. The reader doesn’t need to be a biblical scholar to benefit.
“We typically regard ourselves more as human doings than as human beings,” Hanger offers in one of his distilled observations. And he jovially sums up ecstatic caroling with, “You wanna blow some magical doodah dust into any situation? Sing to it.”
Though based in Christian text, Drink doesn’t require the reader to be Christian, and the book is likely to gain followers looking for uplifting affirmations or a little extra support during a dark time. The slim volume bears gorgeous cover art by local artist Daniel Nevins: That alone is reason enough to pick up the book.
who:Howard Hanger presents Drink Deeply with Delight
what:Discussion and book signing
where:Malaprop’s
when:Thursday, Jan. 24 (7 p.m. Free. 254-6734)
Hello, just wanted to point out that Lobster Press is not the publisher of “Drink Deeply with Delight: Weekly Meditations.” This article credits us with this book – we publish children’s titles, so although it may be lovely, it’s not ours. I tried to look up the correct publisher for you, but couldn’t find it online. Thank you in advance for updating the information in your article!