Awakening the Quieter Virtues
Gregory Spencer
Intervarsity Press, 2010, 192 pp., $16.00, IVPress.com
As some spiritual gifts are functional (teaching) and some supportive (wisdom), so some virtues are cardinal (courage) and some are quieter (modesty). They are not “quieter” in the sense of importance, but are too often overlooked and unheard. Spencer’s book focuses on seven of these quieter virtues. Beyond modesty, he dedicates a chapter to discuss six other quieter virtues (discernment, innocence, authenticity, reverence, contentment and generosity). I particularly enjoyed the chapter on discernment. Determining right and wrong increasingly is abdicated to legislators or avoided in the name of tolerance.
Although well-researched and written by a professor of communication, this book doesn’t read like an academic text. There are great illustrations and memorable terms such as Choosak, Ock Jocks and Imaginarium (you’ll have to read the book).
Each chapter concludes with questions for discussion and very practical exercises to help the reader implement that particular virtue. Although Awakening the Quieter Virtues is not targeted to adolescents, it would be a great choice for a discipleship group led by an adult who could read through it with them. The virtues discussed sadly are unknown and neglected in our culture by teens and adults.
