Following the Gospels could transform our world

The Explore Beyond the Usual site shares Kathryn Samuelson's post "Metanoia or the Radical Transformation of Heart and Mind" from December 2012 in which Samuelson recommends Thomas Moore's book Writing in the Sand: Jesus and the Soul of the Gospels. She considers the limitations of translating metanoia as repentance in theological discussions and champions Moore's expansive description of the term. She also suggests:

"One of the lessons, according to Moore, is to say yes to life all along the journey and to not reject the simple pleasures of life for yourself and others out of some idea that to be a true follower of Jesus, your life must be one of austerity and denial only. It seems to me that he is saying that having an open heart, being welcoming of your life and of others, coming from a place of love, compassion and wisdom is the path of Jesus. If all of us followed these steps (whether an actual follower of Jesus) this shift would radically transform each of us through reinventing our egos and thus reinventing the world." 

Samuelson finds this book worth reading and rereading.