Naomi Dawn Musch

     I love the title of C. Maggie Woychik's new book, I Run to the Hills -- Reflections on the Christian Journey. Coupled with the book's serene cover design, I was immediately drawn into the idea that I would find in its pages a place of peace and reflection. I did.

     Ms. Woychik's style reminded me of writings long past like those found in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, or Hurnard's Hind's Feet and Mountains of Spices. It's devotional depth was reminiscient in style to the writings of Oswald Chambers.

     Okay, those are some pretty big shoes to fill, but Ms. Woychik certainly has the voice for it. Her analogy of a weary sojourner, climbing the Alpine path to discover the true treasure of fellowship with the Mountain Maker lends itself to long reflection and soul-searching. But be forewarned, it's not the sort of book that you sit down and read in a couple of sittings, though it's not a lengthy book. It's the sort of book that you take in small servings and savor for a while, which is is exactly how it was written, over years and through life lessons.

     Not every section of the book spoke to my heart, but that's likely because, as Ms. Woychik points out, our journeys are all different. I particulary loved her chapters that spoke of "The Desert of Duty", and thought that her stark characterization of the differences between duty and love to be especially telling on the dangers of falling into that parched place. She says, "If love doesn't motivate us in our Christian walk, duty will. And duty grows old, cold and unconcerned.Lackluster and lacking in heart, a Christianity driven by duty becomes like any other religion: a list of do's and don't's, powerless and a stumbling block to those around us. Love generates enthusiasm, but duty breeds apathy. A Christian's duty is simply this: to love God with the whole heart and others as ourselves."

     I Run to the Hills talks about the slight wall that separates love from idolatry, and about the perils of becoming Indifferent, Lazy, Unprepared, and Self-Made. It points the way to discern the Voice of Love and the path to Spirit-sensitivity. It gives warning about the Masquerader of the Mountain, because few find their way out of Liscense and Liberty.

     I recommend I Run to the Hills to anyone who is willing to look inwardly on their own Christian journey and who longs for solace along the way.