Mary Kathryn Clark’s Book Collections

Do You Want to Get Well? A Thirty-One Day Guide to Daily Devotions

“How many times have you said, ‘Someday I am going to do that?'”

book review by Barbara Bamberger Scott

by Mary Kathryn Clark Gotham Books

Author Clark has assembled a practical manual demonstrating how often people tend to procrastinate, longing to do something useful, helpful, or even noble, yet putting it off until it seems impossible to accomplish. Yet this tendency can be overcome, she states, through daily meditation, self-questioning, and prayer. Her treatise is a unique seven-step program consisting of the recitation of prayer based on the book of Ephesians in the Holy Bible, recitation of a prayer composed by Liberty Savard, carefully considering the issues that hinder one from surrendering to Christ, questioning on each topic offered in her guidebook, and music to provide therapeutic inspiration.

For the thirty-one daily segments presented, these overarching steps provide focus. An example is found in “Day Twenty-Three,” where listening is stressed, both as a lack for many in this technological age and as a gift one can offer others, underpinned by practicing effective communication skills. Clark also recommends breathing techniques and daily development of commitment to Christ as part of this assiduously organized array of outward exercises and inward meditations.

Clark, an educator and counselor in her career life, began this book when she was retired, put off its completion until she rediscovered the original manuscript, and now offers it here for others to realize that they too can achieve significant works through simple but dedicated daily deliberation. Devoted to music, Clark includes pertinent song and hymn lyrics for each of the thirty-one days. All entries give readers three personal questions to ask and answer based on the day’s theme. Biblical references are most often focused on prayer and on examples that Jesus gave for leading a spiritual life. Clark’s own well-considered observations are commendable, enlivening, and can doubtless fulfill her expressed hope that her guidebook will give readers “new depth” of concentration in all aspects of daily life.