Brazen by Leeana Tankersley

Wow! This book hit home. I thought as a senior citizen I didn't need to do any more exploring of my soul. I was wrong.

Maybe you're like Tankersley in that you have quieted the essence that God put inside of you. You've let voices squelch that creative itch. Exploring your soul and living out your inner wild takes blood and guts, Tankersley writes. “Because every dark force in the world wants to keep us from exploring our God-given wild.”

I love how Tankersley encouraged me to reach into the depths of my being and find out who and what God knit there. I loved her encouragement to have the freedom to do and be, to really live out who I am. She helped me realize I was hiding part of my created center when I didn't even realize it.

Here are two insights I personally gathered from reading this book. I don't like frivolity. I've never been one to play games or be silly. Tankersley helped me realize I'm that way because I do not want people to think I'm frivolous, that is, irrelevant, not having any serious value. Ouch. Another insight was about eating. When I refuse to tend to my actual need, I'll get “grabby.” I'll grab some food. Her lesson on that will certainly make me think more deeply the next time I grab some “thing” to fulfill a need.

I really like her suggestion of spending twenty minutes of soul time a day. This is unforced time, just space to make peace with myself and search those crevices I may have hidden away. I also liked her suggestion of rules to break. You mean it's really okay to not set up my voice mail?

I recommend this book to those ready to do some deep thinking about who God created you to be. You may have to look at lost dreams or how you cover up what you feel are inadequacies. Tankersley has added thought provoking questions at the end of each chapter to help you do that. Be ready. You may just find your wild.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

Leeana Tankersley is the author of Found Art and Breathing Room and holds degrees in English from Liberty University and West Virginia University. She and her husband live in San Diego with their three children. You can follow her blog at www.leeanatankersley.com.

Revell, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.