“Meanwhile, here is some good news you can use: even when light fades and darkness falls—as it does every single day, in every single life—God does no“Meanwhile, here is some good news you can use: even when light fades and darkness falls—as it does every single day, in every single life—God does not turn the world over to some other deity. Even when you cannot see where you are going and no one answers when you call, this is not sufficient proof that you are alone. There is a divine presence that transcends all your ideas about it, along with all your language for calling it to your aid, which is not above using darkness as the wrecking ball that brings all your false gods down—but whether you decide to trust the witness of those who have gone before you, or you decide to do whatever it takes to become a witness yourself, here is the testimony of faith: darkness is not dark to God; the night is as bright as the day.” p. 15
Taylor is a person of faith that I have respected for many years. Her writing, both books and essays in The Christian Century, have sustained me as I have explored my beliefs. I feel like her faith journey intersects periodically with mine. Although our paths have been different we have been walking through the heart of Christianity for about the same length of time.
In this book she is tackling a deep subject. People really are afraid to walk in the dark in all areas of life. The aspects of her book that I found most helpful were those dealing with religion and faith. Right now for Western Christianity these are dark times. Many churches are becoming more rigid because the changes are so painful. I believe that is not the best solution – to resist change. However, I could not have imagined that my own congregation would be facing so many problems. We are walking through the dark, praying to be ready for what is ahead.
Although Taylor is not specifically talking about silence or solitude, her book has been a great addition to my reading in those areas. A number of times Taylor is spending time by herself. I think that many have a similar fear about the dark and about being solitary. I personally am more comfortable alone than in the dark. However, Taylor makes the dark something worth exploring. Her essays, which follow the phases of the moon, are well-written, interesting and provide some challenges to my ideas about the dark.
I recommend this book to anyone who is actively walking a path of faith or exploration. Although Taylor is Christian, she finds answers in other religions. This makes her book open to anyone who is trying to figure out the big questions of life.
Winner has come up with a mind-broadening way of looking at spiritual disciplines. She was reared as a Jew and converted to Christianity some time agoWinner has come up with a mind-broadening way of looking at spiritual disciplines. She was reared as a Jew and converted to Christianity some time ago. In this book she looks back on her Jewish upbringing and relates her spiritual practices from her earlier faith to her present beliefs.
Many of the topics that Winner examines have been looked at many times before. I have read whole books on hospitality, fasting and prayer. However, Winner is approaching them from a perspective I have not seen before.
On top of that she is an inspired writer. Winner is able to relate her own experiences in ways that resonate with her readers.
I recommend this book to Christians looking to seek connections to our Jewish heritage, to others who find spiritual disciplines soul-nourishing and to anyone looking for ways to practice their faith....more
This was definitely the right book at the right time. If I owned it rather than borrowed this from the library, I would have been underlining whole paThis was definitely the right book at the right time. If I owned it rather than borrowed this from the library, I would have been underlining whole paragraphs. I needed the reminders about God, prayer, paying attention and presence that Kidd provides.
It was odd to be reading this book after finishing Kidd's The Dance of the Dissident Daughter. In that, Kidd realizes that she is in need of a feminist spiritual awakening. So as part of her journey, she looked at how she saw God. By the end of Dance, Kidd is seeing God as feminine. This earlier book refers to God as he very, very often. I am already uncomfortable with God as masculine, but reading Kidd's feminist book and then this one made the masculine pronouns even weirder. I probably should not have read them so close together.
For all the strangeness about God's gender, I found Kidd's book very helpful. She is honest in her depictions of her spiritual life and it seems too close to mine. I don't spend enough time just being present. I am very stressed for a number of reasons and I keep forgetting that some space and quiet would be helpful. Many of Kidd's discoveries are familiar, but I can always use a refresher course.
I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for new ways to see and experience God and are not familiar with contemplative prayer. Also to those who need a reminder that showing up is important. This is more in line with traditional Christianity, so it may appeal to some people who would be uncomfortable with Kidd's spiritual journey in The Dance of the Dissident Daughter....more
Four years ago, almost to the day, I finished another book on quiet time and prayer. Rereading my review of that book and then figuring out what to saFour years ago, almost to the day, I finished another book on quiet time and prayer. Rereading my review of that book and then figuring out what to say about Neeld's book feels like deja vu all over again. (Thanks Yogi for this great phrase.) It is apparent that I am always seeking a solution to my overly busy life. Of course, I am the only one that can actually change my life, but I keep thinking the perfect answer is in some book somewhere.
That said, Elizabeth Harper Neeld is a good guide to the contemplative life. She has found the techniques that work for her; she has read others' works and shares them and Neeld includes comments from others who have come up with their own reasons for using meditation. The writing is good and the layout of the chapters is useful.
I recommend this book to folks interested in some space in their lives; to those who use contemplative prayer, but need new ideas and to those seekers who are willing to consider changing their life to be less hectic.
Hopefully, I will be able to apply some of this to my own life....more
I have been encountering this book and the author, Patrick Leigh Fermor, in my reading for more than a year. I seemed destined to read this book. So wI have been encountering this book and the author, Patrick Leigh Fermor, in my reading for more than a year. I seemed destined to read this book. So when I was doing a book order and needed one more title to get my free shipping, this was the reasonable candidate. That got the book in my house, but not to the top of the to-be-read pile.
Then I decided to add silence to my day for Lent. I have not been keeping up with my journal and I am hoping that adding a bit of silence before writing will encourage me to go back to my journal. I like writing and I am not sure exactly how I got out of the habit.
So for my spiritual reading (something I try to do for Sabbath), this seemed like a good choice. Short and on a subject I am curious about. It was the right thing for me to read this past week. I found Fermor's writing interesting and his stays in the monasteries fascinating. Not only is the monastic environment something I know nothing about, but I am not sure the abbeys that Fermor visited still have monks. It has been a long time since this book was written.
I will be chewing on what Fermor and Karen Armstrong have to say for awhile. I am finding it hard to sit still and silent for five minutes. It appears that Fermor has a problem in the beginning also. He decided to go to a place where silence was the norm which at this point I can't even imagine.
I am glad to "meet" Fermor. I will seek out some of his other books since his writing is lovely.
I recommend this book to others curious about silence or monasteries; for those who live contemplative lives who want to know about others doing the same and to folks who like unusual books....more
I am pretty sure that I have read this book before, but it was good to revisit what Mathewes-Green has to say. Thanks to her, I think I am becoming moI am pretty sure that I have read this book before, but it was good to revisit what Mathewes-Green has to say. Thanks to her, I think I am becoming more comfortable with these beautiful works of art. They are, of course, more than just art, they are aids to prayer. The perspectives and style are just odd to my eyes.
Mathewes-Green was not born to Orthodoxy, but apparently converted as an adult. She understands the Western view of icons and can bridge the gap between our understanding and the Eastern orthodox church practices. I found her explanations of the use of icons very helpful. Having pictures of actual icons makes the book especially informative.
I will say that if you know much about icons this book is not for you. This is a very simple explanation of icons and some of the practices of eastern orthodoxy.
I am not sure who I would recommend this book to. The reader would have to have some interest in religion and not much knowledge of eastern orthodoxy. If you had no background in Christianity, this might be hard to follow....more
My sister called me and said I had to read this book. This is an amazing and unusual event. She is a busy person - six kids among other things and I aMy sister called me and said I had to read this book. This is an amazing and unusual event. She is a busy person - six kids among other things and I am the librarian. I usually want to tell her what to read. The other odd part is we are not always in sync about religion. And this book is definitely about religion. So I figured out I could get this book on my Kindle and downloaded it immediately.
And my sister is right - I needed to read this book. Shauna is a wise soul for one so young. She reminded me to really look at the world. To see what an incredible miracle this world is - what wondrous things God has done.
This is not a book to sit down and devour. This is a book to read and reread over time and to really savor. If you are feeling jaded with the world and not sure how God fits into your life, Shauna will open your eyes. ...more
This wonderful, amazing book has been in my library for a very long time. I bought it when I bought the books by Miriam Therese Winter about the womenThis wonderful, amazing book has been in my library for a very long time. I bought it when I bought the books by Miriam Therese Winter about the women of the Bible. I knew that I needed this book, but for a long time I just looked at the pictures.
Then I read Women at Prayer by Mary Collins. In this book, she mentions Meinrad Craighead and so I went right to my shelf and pulled out this book. I am so glad I still had it.
This time around, I really got Craighead's stories. She has always had a link in her life to God the mother and I am so grateful for this connection. This book has been a godsend to my spiritual life. It will regularly figure in my devotions. We all need reminders that God had no boundaries, God is all....more
This is a tiny book - 50 pages. But it fits the proverb about good things coming in small packages. Part of a lecture series from St. Mary's College iThis is a tiny book - 50 pages. But it fits the proverb about good things coming in small packages. Part of a lecture series from St. Mary's College in Indiana, Collins' topic seems fairly mundane from the title.
However, Collins chooses to look at some women that may not be considered your average religious. They include Anne Sexton and Annie Dillard.
I am still mulling over this book. I have a little reading to do based on Collins book and then I will come back to this book....more
Since I have become for intentional about my devotional life, I have read several different translations of the psalms. This is now my favorite. NormaSince I have become for intentional about my devotional life, I have read several different translations of the psalms. This is now my favorite. Norman Fischer has filtered his versions through his own spiritual life and heritage and then used his magnificent ability to write poetry to give me a new sense of what the psalms are speaking. The combination of Fischer's Jewish background, his own present practice of Buddhism and his Catholic friends must be what makes these so wonderful. I will go back to this book again and again. ...more
It is hard for me to write about this book. When I first encountered Annie Dillard, a long time ago, I was swept away by her language. She uses words It is hard for me to write about this book. When I first encountered Annie Dillard, a long time ago, I was swept away by her language. She uses words like paint brushes - the pictures are beautiful.
I am still swept away by Dillard's writing. She describes the Virginia wilderness so beautifully. However, I had too many things on my mind this visit to Pilgrim Creek. I did not do justice to the beauty Dillard was trying to show me.
I am going to listen to this book, as soon as my library gets the audio book. That will help me slow down and savor the words....more
I am not sure what to say about this book. It is well written and needed in this day and age. Foster wants us to read the Bible, but for God, not for I am not sure what to say about this book. It is well written and needed in this day and age. Foster wants us to read the Bible, but for God, not for our own needs. One should not expect the Bible to be a magical solution. Foster has a good section on lecto divina and a wonderful chapter on grace. As always Foster has written a marvelous, meaty book.
The reason I am not sure how to review this book, is that I think my first reading has only skimmed the surface. I have found that Foster's books are new every time I read one. He has so much to say that it takes several readings and much thought for me to digest his message.
I have read his book Celebration of Discipline several times and listened to Foster's book on prayer at least twice. Every time Foster has something to tell me that I did not hear before.
I highly recommend Foster's writings. Just be prepared to read them again and again....more
Lately, I have been reading books that take time. They are not meant to be read in one sitting. This is one of them. Kephart spent time at ChanticleerLately, I have been reading books that take time. They are not meant to be read in one sitting. This is one of them. Kephart spent time at Chanticleer, once a week for more than a year. In response to her visits she wrote small vignettes about flowers, trees, the gardens and her life.
Chanticleer is a garden that was a gift to the world from its owner. Rosengarten felt that the land need to be kept as a pleasure garden for the world. It was an amazing present to the future.
I would recommend this book to gardeners; people who are thinking about their purpose; and those interested gifts....more
Lewis Richmond sees work as our life - all aspects of life can be part of our purposeful activities and so, they are part of work. Taking work as lifeLewis Richmond sees work as our life - all aspects of life can be part of our purposeful activities and so, they are part of work. Taking work as life, Richmond goes on to define 8 modes of work. There are, in his mind, eight important aspects of outer work that then have a matching eight aspects of inner work. Richmond defines these as Earner, Hobbyist, Creator, Monk, Helper, Parent, Learner and Elder.
At first I had some trouble with these modes that Richmond defines. I was especially turned off by the term hobbyist. However, once I was open to the author's definitions, I could follow along with his thesis.
This book has a definite slant towards eastern religion, which was not a problem for me. Richmond gave me some ways of looking at my life that were new to me. I especially liked some of his suggested activities. Well worth reading, in my opinion. ...more
No one would be surprised if Gottlieb was an unhappy man. He has had more than his share of tragedy and trauma in his life. He could have just crawledNo one would be surprised if Gottlieb was an unhappy man. He has had more than his share of tragedy and trauma in his life. He could have just crawled in a hole and pulled it in after him.
The subtitle of this book is Lessons on Living, Loving and Listening. It was the word listening that caught my attention - I am trying to listen more closely to those around me. However all three topics are very important and Gottlieb has good thoughts on all of them.
This is a book to read slowly, learn from it and savor Daniel Gottlieb's writings. I was so captivated by the author that I read the book quickly. I am planning on reading at least parts again very soon.
Daniel Gottlieb has a lot to teach me - and others....more
For Lent I started looking into spiritual direction. I think that I am interested in finding a spiritual director.
This book gave me some concrete reaFor Lent I started looking into spiritual direction. I think that I am interested in finding a spiritual director.
This book gave me some concrete reasons for why I might want a director and what an interfaith director might do for me. I was especially glad to read Addison's definitions on when direction is a choice and when you might want pastoral counseling, a therapist, or just education.
Addison's style was useful and easy for me to follow. This book was written with the novice in mind. ...more
I have liked everything that I have read by Chittister. This book was wonderful, but not like anything I read by her in the past. Chittister asks 12 qI have liked everything that I have read by Chittister. This book was wonderful, but not like anything I read by her in the past. Chittister asks 12 questions and then provides thoughts, proverbs, quotations on possible answers for the questions. There lots of information here. She brings together material from all religions; from lots of different people. Her goal is to help her readers to become more fully human because then we are God's greatest glory.
This is a book to be read and reread. There is too much here to be absorbed in one reading. ...more
For Lent I have been exploring spiritual direction and I ran across this book in a local library. I am so glad I found it. This is a compilation of thFor Lent I have been exploring spiritual direction and I ran across this book in a local library. I am so glad I found it. This is a compilation of things that Nouwen wrote or said on spiritual direction. It would be a great small group book.
Each chapter leads the reader on a path to a better understanding of how one's spiritual life can be improved, including group and individual activities.
I found two parts of this book especially helpful. There is an appendix that talks about how to find a spiritual director. Also there is a wonderful prayer, The Beloved Prayer that I find wonderful....more
I did not spend much time with this book during Lent. I had hoped to, but life intervened. However, I have read this book several times and really finI did not spend much time with this book during Lent. I had hoped to, but life intervened. However, I have read this book several times and really find it helpful. I don't have a very contemplative life, but I can always hope. And this book can guide me as I make changes to my devotional life....more
I have not read this book cover to cover, but it is one of my favorite books on prayer. Gire has put together a wonderful collection of materials fromI have not read this book cover to cover, but it is one of my favorite books on prayer. Gire has put together a wonderful collection of materials from all over the Christian world. Every time I pick it up, I find something new to read or I find two pieces juxtaposed that I would not have put together.
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