Breadcrumbs of Light by Michael Emnett is a Christian devotional about learning to recognize God’s guidance in ordinary life. Emnett presents hundreds of brief meditations that begin with Scripture before connecting a biblical idea to a familiar situation. He opens with Jesus healing on the Sabbath as a lesson in acting when the moment is imperfect, then uses Christ’s teaching to consider how a person becomes more receptive to God. As the book continues, prayer becomes the route through which Emnett understands divine direction whenever the next move needs guidance. His Catholic faith is explicit in meditations on the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist. Through the later meditations, Emnett returns repeatedly to the image of light, presenting a life with God as one discovered through small signs that illuminate the next step.

Michael Emnett’s Breadcrumbs of Light is a fantastic Christian devotional, and I love how naturally he brings Scripture into the experiences of his life. His writing is conversational and sincere, with each meditation explained fully before he gives readers a practical way to use it, even if you're new to Christianity. I most appreciate his discussion of keeping a family healthy, which also happens to be a perfect example. Emnett describes the weekly hour he and Anne set aside to discuss their household, then explains why their Saturday date night remains important after decades of marriage. Likewise, his real-estate experience gives his advice that bit of extra gravitas. In his discussion of prudence, he explains how he develops apartments one building at a time, leasing one before moving to the next. Well written and genuinely accessible, Christian readers who enjoy practical guidance on daily spirituality will adore this.

Breadcrumbs of Light by Michael Emnett is a Christian devotional by a man who has lived a genuinely uncommon life. Emnett grew up working at his father's grocery store, rode in the back of a garbage truck as a teenager, and went on to become a successful real-estate developer, all while deepening his Catholic faith over nearly seventy years. The book is a collection of short reflective meditations, each built around a Gospel passage or a spiritual theme, with titles like "On Doing It Anyway," "On Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing," and "On the Monster Called Ego." Each entry pairs a Scripture verse with Emnett's own reflections, woven together with quotes from saints, philosophers, and thinkers ranging from Thomas Merton and St. Augustine to Benjamin Franklin and Joni Mitchell. The result is a generous, wide-ranging book that invites the reader to ponder one idea at a time and let it settle.

Michael Emnett writes the way a wise older friend talks: warmly, practically, and without pretension. The meditations are short enough to read in a few minutes each, which makes the book ideal for daily use rather than straight-through reading, as the author himself suggests in his opening note. I was particularly struck by his account of kneeling at age forty and surrendering control of his life to God — a moment described with real honesty. The themes of faith, ego, growth, and perseverance are consistent throughout, and the individuals Emnett draws on, from Sister Connor to St. Clare of Assisi, give the book texture and warmth. Breadcrumbs of Light is a thoughtful, grounded, and quietly inspiring devotional that rewards the reader who takes it slowly.