This post is the first in a series of book reviews I hope to post regularly.  Most of the books I’ll read will not be directly related to school libraries, but I hope to discover how I can take what I learn and apply it in the workplace.

This is also my first giveaway!  That’s right!  If my review intrigues you, make sure you enter below to win a copy of the book.

The In-Between: Embracing the Tension Between Now and the Next Big Thing by Jeff Goins

In The In-Between, Goins proposes that the best moments in our lives are not the “big moments” that we often wait for (marriage, birth of a baby, the perfect job, etc.).  Instead, the moments in-between the big moments are what shape who we really are.

He fleshes this out by telling stories of how God worked in the “in-between” moments of his own life.

I resonated with this idea because I am currently in an “in-between” phase in a major area my life. It’s too personal to share here, but let’s just say I’m waiting for the next “big moment.”  I don’t know when (or how) God will enact this big moment, so I’m having difficulty staying present in this “in between” and learning from it.

So, what does this have to do with school libraries?

I think the answer is that our faith in Christ probably won’t be the most visible in the “big” moments.  Our students probably won’t see Christ’s love in us the most during our well-thought-out lessons or in our amazing library events.  They’ll see Him most as they get to know us in the day-to-day.  During the small, everyday, routine moments.

And not only will our students hopefully see Him, but I think we grow the most during the times when life may feel a bit mundane or difficult.  We grow when students show up unprepared to do research.  We grow when we deal with our students’ behavior issues with patience and wisdom.  We grow when we refuse to gossip with colleagues after boring or frustrating staff meetings.  Those are the “in-betweens” the really shape us.

Goins describes how this happens much more eloquently than I ever will.  He does this without the self-importance or the “I’ve got it all figured out” attitude you often see in these types of books.  So if you’re intrigued, you can purchase your own copy on Amazon, or… you can enter below to win one!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The official giveaway rules can be found here.