INSPIRATION COFFEE & WISDOM TEA

A collection offers inspirational quotes arranged from January to December.

In his work’s Introduction, Vu (Searching for God, the Precious Treasure, in My Daily Life, 2018, etc.) presents the familiar metaphor of the morning coffee to begin the day. The author then provides readers with a calendar of quotes designed to start them on the right mental note with “a quick spiritual boost.” Vu, a Roman Catholic priest, selects his quotes from a wide variety of sources irrespective of their spiritual provenance. The main purpose is to counteract what he describes as the menacing chaos of the modern world. Thus proverbs from many nations appear alongside scriptural passages and quotations from such figures as Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, and Gandhi. The author supplies these quotes, adds commentary of his own, and labels the results “Inspirational Coffee” or “Wisdom Tea,” depending on whether his aim is to give his readers the high energy of a morning mug of coffee or the nerves-soothing calm of an afternoon cup of tea, with the sections most often taking the form of a prayer. For example, Vu quotes the book of Proverbs (in a modern translation): “Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do!” The author’s gloss follows: “Wisdom comes from past mistakes and life experiences that can give you valuable insights for the future.” Then he caps off this segment with Wisdom Tea: “Wisdom of God, help me to see the value of your special gift and try to acquire it over my lifetime.” While the stirring quotes are carefully curated, Vu’s commentaries can sometimes be obvious or even plodding. When he quotes William Gladstone’s famous line “Justice delayed is justice denied,” for instance, he follows up with: “When justice is delayed, it tells the world that something else is more important than itself.” But generally the dialogue he sets up with his own chosen quotations in this heartfelt book is gentle and humane. Many readers will no doubt find the effect of perusing page after page of such discourse comforting indeed.

A lovingly assembled calendar of uplifting quotes and commentaries, perfect for reading on tough days.