Book excerpt: Bestselling author and beloved retreat leader Joyce Rupp has offered companionship and gentle guidance throughout the seasons in such books as May I Have This Dance? and Anchors for the Soul. In Jesus, Friend of My Soul, each two-page daily reflection brings our attention to the Lenten season, providing reflections for growth and inviting us to follow Jesus and become more like him. “As Christians,” Joyce Rupp writes, “we look to the person of Jesus to learn from him.” Because our lives are filled to the brim with activity, it is easy to drift away from trying to live as Jesus did, and we find ourselves in need of time to focus on drawing close to him again and learning from his example. In Jesus, Friend of My Soul, Rupp guides us from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday illustrating both how Jesus called his followers to change and how his actions provide us a blueprint for growth. Rupp helps us learn from the qualities of Jesus and the actions and teachings that marked his time on earth, including: how Jesus extended mercy after Peter’s denials how Jesus trusted in his Father, even as he experienced other emotions when troubling events occurred how Jesus spoke and acted with integrity, which made him a valuable and trustworthy person for others to listen to and follow Each day’s reflection begins with a verse from scripture and a meditation centered on Jesus’ life, actions, and teachings that are applied to our lives. We are then offered a prayer and an intention to carry with us throughout the day. Each brief reflection gently leads us to new growth in our lives and invites us to reach new depths in our faith. Questions for individual or group study are included.