Uncovering Your Path - by Charles Lattimore Howard (Paperback)

About the Book

"From an Ivy-League university chaplain comes a profound collection of spiritual reflections designed for people everywhere, including recent college graduates, looking to find their "way" and their "why." "Who am I?", "What is my purpose?", and "What should I do with my life?" are questions that all of us find ourselves asking at some point or another. In this deeply transformative and lyrical book, Charles "Chaz" Lattimore Howard offers a helpful guide as we venture to answer these questions for ourselves, inviting us to slow down, to actually walk the journey of life, and to allow our path to reveal itself to us. From an enlightening conversation with a Jain college student about the principle of non-violence to a heartwarming episode coaching basketball to an anxious school-aged child, Chaz shares how everyday moments can help you discern your purpose in the universe. Bolstered with poignant anecdotes that follow Chaz's journey as a priest, professor, student, parent, spouse, social justice advocate, and religious leader, Uncovering Your Path will fill you with renewed vigor, inspire introspection, and encourage you to find your place in God's world"--

Book Synopsis

From an Ivy-League university chaplain comes a profound collection of spiritual reflections designed for people everywhere, including recent college graduates, looking to find their "way" and their "why."

"Who am I?", "What is my purpose?", and "What should I do with my life?" are questions that all of us find ourselves asking at some point or another. In this deeply transformative and lyrical book, Charles "Chaz" Lattimore Howard offers a helpful guide as we venture to answer these questions for ourselves, inviting us to slow down, to actually walk the journey of life, and to allow our path to reveal itself to us. From an enlightening conversation with a Jain college student about the principle of non-violence to a heartwarming episode coaching basketball to an anxious school-aged child, Chaz shares how everyday moments can help you discern your purpose in the universe. Bolstered with poignant anecdotes that follow Chaz's journey as a priest, professor, student, parent, spouse, social justice advocate, and religious leader, Uncovering Your Path will fill you with renewed vigor, inspire introspection, and encourage you to find your place in God's world.

Review Quotes

"Colleges and universities face expectations that only ever seem to rise. On a competitive landscape, they try to be all things to all people and lack clear identities. The most competitive institutions of higher education long ago rescinded faith commitments that might have provided guidance. Alongside these institutional patterns, the human beings that make up communities are struggling. Overwhelmed by empty promises like, 'You can do whatever you want, ' students look to their chaplains, professors, and deans for help in identifying their gifts and passions and making choices in light of them. Those same chaplains, professors, and deans lack resources even to plot a path for themselves. Chaz Howard's book, Uncovering Your Path: Spiritual Reflections for Finding Your Purpose will help students, those who love students, and all who lead communities. This beautiful collection of reflections, poems (both quoted and created by the author), and spiritual exercises will empower individuals to face tough questions about their own lives and will guide institutional leaders toward life-giving directions for those they serve."

"How do we find our path? Do we decide--or as Chaz Howard suggests, gently, in this beautiful book - do we discern? Life is a journey, it is often said, and in Uncovering Your Path, you learn that discerning the way forward is more a matter of listening and feeling than reasoning and thinking. To say I read this book would be an understatement. I savored it, I absorbed it. I loved it. For anyone at any age who stands at a crossroads, wishing they had a humble, wise, and loving companion at their side, I recommend doing the same."

"In Uncovering Your Path, Chaz Howard provides a unique and very personal view on how one can find their way in life. Chaz opens up about his own journey and the many obstacles he faced. He explains with interesting storytelling how mistakes are a part of the process and the ability to continue to grow from all experiences--positive or negative--will enable you to uncover your path and find purpose in life."

"In my own life, I walked a slowly uncovered path of discernment in the years after college. What a gift it is to have not only the great 'cloud of witnesses, ' as St. Paul says of the Saints who help us with their prayers and examples, but also good books to help us find, and refine, our purpose and find our way. I'm delighted that my friend (and the chaplain of my alma mater) the talented and charismatic Chaz Howard has written this beautiful book to help others along their discernment journeys."

"This inspiring book will help you find your path in life as well as joy and peace as you walk it. Chaz's reflections are a gift to people of all faiths and those of none at all. Uncovering Your Path gives you the opportunity to 'sit down with the chaplain, ' explore your life, and benefit from his wisdom as countless current and future leaders have done throughout Chaz's more than two decades of ministry."

"Colleges and universities face expectations that only ever seem to rise. On a competitive landscape, they try to be all things to all people and lack clear identities. The most competitive institutions of higher education long ago rescinded faith commitments that might have provided guidance. Alongside these institutional patterns, the human beings that make up communities are struggling. Overwhelmed by empty promises like, 'You can do whatever you want, ' students look to their chaplains, professors, and deans for help in identifying their gifts and passions and making choices in light of them. Those same chaplains, professors, and deans lack resources even to plot a path for themselves. Chaz Howard's book, Uncovering Your Path: Spiritual Reflections for Finding Your Purpose will help students, those who love students, and all who lead communities. This beautiful collection of reflections, poems (both quoted and created by the author), and spiritual exercises will empower individuals to face tough questions about their own lives and will guide institutional leaders toward life-giving directions for those they serve."-- "Sarah B. Drummond, founding dean Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School, Author of Intentional Leadership: In-Between Seasons"

"How do we find our path? Do we decide--or as Chaz Howard suggests, gently, in this beautiful book - do we discern? Life is a journey, it is often said, and in Uncovering Your Path, you learn that discerning the way forward is more a matter of listening and feeling than reasoning and thinking. To say I read this book would be an understatement. I savored it, I absorbed it. I loved it. For anyone at any age who stands at a crossroads, wishing they had a humble, wise, and loving companion at their side, I recommend doing the same."-- "Angela Duckworth, Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor, University of Pennsylvania, Author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance"

"In Uncovering Your Path, Chaz Howard provides a unique and very personal view on how one can find their way in life. Chaz opens up about his own journey and the many obstacles he faced. He explains with interesting storytelling how mistakes are a part of the process and the ability to continue to grow from all experiences--positive or negative--will enable you to uncover your path and find purpose in life."-- "Steve Donahue, John R. Rockwell Head Men's Basketball Coach, University of Pennsylvania"

"In my own life, I walked a slowly uncovered path of discernment in the years after college. What a gift it is to have not only the great 'cloud of witnesses, ' as St. Paul says of the Saints who help us with their prayers and examples, but also good books to help us find, and refine, our purpose and find our way. I'm delighted that my friend (and the chaplain of my alma mater) the talented and charismatic Chaz Howard has written this beautiful book to help others along their discernment journeys."-- "James Martin, SJ, Author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything"

"This inspiring book will help you find your path in life as well as joy and peace as you walk it. Chaz's reflections are a gift to people of all faiths and those of none at all. Uncovering Your Path gives you the opportunity to 'sit down with the chaplain, ' explore your life, and benefit from his wisdom as countless current and future leaders have done throughout Chaz's more than two decades of ministry."-- "Ben Jealous, Executive Director of The Sierra Club, Former President and CEO of The NAACP, Author of Never Forget Our People Were Always Free: A Parable of American Healing"