Soul keeping (by John Ortberg)

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I have very much appreciated the books by John Ortberg which I have acquired over the years. He is an American pastor with a sense of humour, and (in my view) an excellent balance in his beliefs. There are some of his books which I read quite a while ago, so I’m now - gradually - rereading them. It had been over eight years since I read ‘Soul keeping’, so I’ve just reread it over the past ten days or so.

It’s a very thought-provoking book, in my view. It covers some rather deeper issues than the author’s other books, and as such is, in places, rather heavier than is usual with Ortberg’s writing. But he does it very well, and I am very glad that I’ve read it again.

The book is about looking after our souls - and there is some discussion, early in the book, about what a soul is. It’s not something that can easily be defined; we can’t see our souls, or measure them. Some would deny that they exist. Some confuse them with our will or spirit, and sometimes people use phrases like, ‘poor old soul’, to refer to an individual. That’s perhaps not far from reality, according to Ortberg, since he sees our souls as the entirety of who we are: more than our minds, bodies and wills, and yet not tied to any of them. 

As the book progresses, the author takes several trips to visit his friend Dallas Willard, who was his mentor and inspiration for some years. I haven’t read many books by Dallas Willard, but Ortberg isn’t the only writer to have been inspired by him. And I was particularly struck by his phrase, ‘The ruthless elimination of hurry’, which is the title of a book I read a few months ago - and which, I just remembered, had an introduction by John Ortberg.

But ‘soul keeping’ is not just about slowing down. It’s about looking after our souls in a variety of ways. There is a chapter pointing out how difficult it is to do so in today’s busy, technology-filled noisy world. Our souls are often forgotten in our day-to-day lives, and it’s all too easy for them to shrink, to become damaged or broken. Metaphorical language, to be sure, but I found it resonated all too well. 

The second - and main - part of the book focuses on what our souls need, and I found these chapters particularly relevant. Our souls need us to look after them, and they need a sense of centering on God as often as possible, remembering whose we are. Our souls need time to rest and relax, and freedom from the opinions and judgement of others. And so much more. We’re encouraged to ‘bless’ rather than ‘curse’ other people - to wish them well, and encourage them rather than being critical or boastful. And the final chapter in this section reminds us of the importance of gratitude in our daily lives, rather than feeling as if we’re entitled to more. 

Alongside the teaching sections of the book are further anecdotes, some relating to the author’s family and other situations, and some to his repeated journeys to visit Dallas Willard. Dallas grows older and frailer, and yet stays constant in his positive, joyful attitudes. The last chapters remind us that there’s a ‘dark night of the soul’ that can affect people in different ways, and that if we’re going through this kind of thing, it’s not our fault.

It’s a book for Christians, but could be of interest to people on the fringe, or who are interested in knowing more about what a soul might be. There are many quotations and examples given from the Bible, which mentions the soul a surprising number of times; Ortberg takes his principles and definitions from the Bible, while setting his recommendations and advice firmly in the 21st century.

All in all, I thought this an excellent read, one I would recommend to anyone interested in the health of their soul.

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews