Finding My Way Home, Pathways to Life and the Spirit, by Henri Nouwen

In this book Nouwen, one of the greatest spiritual writers of our time, speaks of the concept of power and of powerlessness, understood in various ways.  First, power as related to success and productivity, measured by how busy we are, what work we do, what our accomplishments are, how many friends we have, how much money we make, how our children do, and what our titles are.   People with this kind of power tend to force, enslave, and to cause envy and fear in others.  They can go where they want, and do whatever they want to do.  The author says that God wants nothing to do with this kind of power; in fact, God has chosen the path of powerlessness, coming into our world as a tiny baby, totally vulnerable and dependent on others. 

God became human, in the mystery of the Incarnation.  And where did this bring Jesus, the incarnate God?  It brought him to the cross, where he refused to save himself from death and suffering by a show of power.  It was only after redeeming humankind by freely offering his life,

that Jesus rose again, using his divine power to complete the Paschal Mystery.  In his ministry Jesus  taught, "Blessed are the poor", Blessed are they who mourn."  His self-portrait is that of the powerlessness of God.  He used only the power to forgive sins, the power to heal, the power to bring life, the power to multiply food for hungry people.

Nouwen also explores powerlessness which can be interpreted as weakness, being totally overcome, but the theology of powerlessness can also claim the power of God, admitting of one's weakness, and relying on the transforming power of God's love.  It is through our admission of powerlessness that we can become brothers and sisters together in need of God.                                                       

Nouwen speaks eloquently of the path of peace, of the path of waiting, of life and death, and he dwells on his favorite topic, that we are God's beloved.  He says that if we truly believe in this relationship, we will not be so afraid when the day comes for us to leave this life and to be with the God Who loves us with an unconditional love.

This review is one of several in this blog of a book by Henri Nouwen.  If you have not yet read any of his writings, please do.  His wisdom and insight, written in small, conversational style, easy-to-read form, will delight and inspire you.   

The Circle of LIfe: The Heart's Journey Through the Seasons by Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr

Both authors have each written a sizable number of popular books on spirituality, and as close friends , they decided to do one together. Since they graciously give permission to copy any part of this book for use as a prayer resource or in a review such as this, I will accept their generosity and offer you several direct quotes. I would never be able to match the beauty and poetry of their writing in a paraphrase. The introduction begins with the statement:  "The four seasons tell a story of transformation every year."  --and continues with --"The seasons invite us to honor the earth out of which new birth germinates, sprouts, blooms, blossoms and grows.  Listen to Earth's song of the seasons passing through her sacred body.  Listen intently to these seasons as they reveal our story of unfolding growth as well."

In a section on prayer, the seasons are referred to as "Winter, Humble Servant of Creation"; "Spring, Graceful, Playful Child of Creation";  "Summer, Earth's Fruitful Season";  and "Autumn, Season of Wisdom and Transformation." -- And later, they  reflect that "Each of the four seasons is a classroom for the heart.  If you sink your roots deep in the soil of a season's truth, it can become your mentor."  For each season there are childhood memories, prayers, poetry, and celebrations, all related to the seasons of our lives.  The authors claim that "We long for connections in the midst of disconnected lives -- connections to ourselves, to others, to the world we live in.  Most of all we yearn to connect with the sacred."

Here are two additional quotes, one from each author, on the season in which we are -- winter:

"Blesses are you, winter, frozen and cold on the outside, within your silent, nurturing womb you warmly welcome all that longs for renewal."  (Joyce Rupp)

"Tonight I honor the darkness and sing of the life I was given in the holy darkness of my first home, that nurturing, earthy womb where I grew bright with life and blossomed in God." (Macrina Weiderkehr).

Even if you do not live in a geographical area of dramatic change from one season to the next, where all that is written "rings true" from life experience, I expect you will find beauty and inspiration on every page.  I heartily recommend The Circle of Life to any reader who has an interest in deepening your life through a closer relationship with creation.

Michelle, A Biography by Liza Mundy

The author has painted a marvelous portrait of a remarkable woman, Michelle Obama, who was born in Chicago in 1964 to Fraser and Marian Robinson, a city-worker father and a stay-at-home mother.  She also has one brother, Craig.  The family lived on Chicago's South Side, in a  mostly black neighborhood.   In about 1970 the Robinson's moved from the predominantly black area to the bi-racial neighborhood of South Shore.  (Michelle's mother still lives there, alone, as Fraser had died of MS in his early 50's.   As a young man he had moved from Alabama to Chicago for better economic opportunities than could be found in the South.  Both parents were exceptional people and believed in the value of hard work, doing your best, education and community service.  Besides his work, Fraser served for a time as a volunteer precinct captain for the Democratic Party  

Although the Civil Rights Act was signed into law six months after Michelle was born, schools were still segregated in Chicago, but after massive protests were waged, the city built a few magnet schools that were bi-racial.  Michelle left her neighborhood to attend one of these schools, where she made many friends, both black and white, worked hard and was admitted to the National Honor Society.  The school had leadership opportunities and provided an excellent preparation for college-bound students.  After graduation she was accepted at Princeton, where her brother Craig was also a student and a "basketball star."  She later studied at Harvard Law School and became a lawyer.  She was more concerned with helping the poor than in winning awards, and she left her law position to work in city planning.

Michelle proved to be intelligent, witty, a bit sharp-tongued, well-organized and an excellent leader.   These traits, plus a lively sense of humor, attracted attention and won a number of influential friends, loyal and committed as she was.  With her Harvard  background and her positions in law and in city planning, it was not long before she and Barack met.  (In fact, her law firm appointed her as Barack's adviser and mentor!)  They were very much alike, both being highly intelligent and service-oriented, with a strong desire to make the world a better place. 

They also had differences, which became another attraction to both of them.

Barack's interest in politics soon became evident, an inclination that Michelle did not share.  However, she realized his potential and was convinced that he could be more influential in the political arena.  So as their friendship grew and they married, she devoted herself whole-heartedly to help him in his political ambitions.  She became a key player in Barack's campaigns,  first as a contender for the state Senate, then in his race to the U.S. Senate, and later to the presidency.  She became extremely effective in this new venture, with the strong work ethic that she had inherited from her father, her magnetic appeal, pleasant personality and good humor.  She soon won many friends and supporters for the cause.  For both of them, family was of the highest importance, and after their two children were born, they found it a constant struggle to find the time they needed for one another.  More than once this caused a strain their relationship,  but their love and loyalty triumphed.  -   Since this biography was published before Barack Obama was elected president, Michelle's possible role as First Lady was not addressed. -   The book is well worth reading, and I highly recommend it.

Hope Against Darkness: The Transforming Vision of Saint Francis in an age of Anxiety, by Richard Rohr with John Bookster Feister

In this insightful book we are presented with the models of Jesus and Francis of Assisi, both of whom lived in times of crisis similar to our own, and how they found a way to make a difference.  As he almost always does, Rohr gives us a strong dose of cultural criticism.  He cites the unhealthy attitudes, cynicism, sarcasm, darkness and confusion that are rampant in our postmodern era.  But in the midst of the darkness and confusion, even perhaps because of it, he sees that people of true greatness are emerging.  They have somehow captured the transformative vision of Jesus and Francis of Assisi.  In them he sees a glimmer of hope that all our wounds can be healed.

Rohr offers insight after insight, in his familiar and inimitable style, along with practical solutions for healing ourselves and our society.  He ends with a "Reconstitutionist Creed" as an aid for rebuilders to begin anew.

This is my third consecutive review of a book by Richard Rohr, a world-known writer, speaker, retreat master and a Franciscan priest.  Besides a countless number of books, he has also produced many audio-cassettes, all on matters of religion and culture and filled with insights and inspiration.  I invite you to check him out and discover for yourselves just how good he is.   

Job and the Mystery of Suffering, Spiritual Reflections, by Richard Rohr

This book is a spiritual commentary on the many themes to be found in the story of Job as is grapples with the question of why there is suffering in the world, even for people who live a good and upright life.  Rohr says that in its essemce , it is a call to let go of old certitudes and goals and to place faith and trust in God alone.  He adds that instead of showing the patience of Job, the story portrays the “impatience of Job,” and the patience of God.

Besides being a study of the mystery of evil, Rohr regards it as “the anatomy of a conversion,” and he says it speaks most strongly to those whole world has fallen apart.  Based on an ancient legend of a man named Job,  a pious person of faith, the anonymous author expands it and creates a profound theology of the problem of evil.

As the story begins, we see Job richly blessed by God, with ten children and many possessions.  Then Satan appears, and when asked by Yahweh if he has noticed that God-fearing man, Job, he replies that Job would end up cursing God if all his possessions were taken away.  But even after Job lost everything, including his children, and his body was covered with painful ulcers, he did not curse God. But he did become very angry, at his wife, at his “friends”, and even at Yahweh. He maintained his innocence and complained bitterly at the unjust treatment he was getting. 

After a long and colorful conversation between Yahweh and Job, God finally restores to Job twice as much as he had before, plus ten beautiful children and 140 more years of life.  The Book of Job in the Old Testament, all 24 chapters of it, is well worth reading again, and even more so, the reflections on the mystery of suffering that Richard Rohr so masterly weaves into the story and relates to our everyday life.

Tatoos on the Heart, The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle

This very recent book, published in 2010, is written by a Jesuit priest who has worked for many years  in an area with the highest concentration of murderous  gangs in the city of Los Angeles, sometimes called the gang capital of the world.    As of the year this book was published, he had buried a young  person  killed  in gang violence 167 times.   To encourage gang members to leave their lives of violence and death and to learn the mutual respect that comes from working together, Fr Boyle created an organization to provide job training, jobs and other incentives for wholesome living and respect for themselves and others.  He occasionally took some of them along on his frequent speaking tours. “G”, as they called him, lived with, suffered with, and counseled  these young people and got to know  their incredibly sad stories of broken homes, irresponsible parents, multiple conflicts with the law and some  even having had more than one jail sentence.   He saw that the tattoos that covered their bodies and even their faces were symbols of the tattoos on their hearts from all they had suffered.  Most of them were young men, teen-agers to their later twenties, but girls were also involved.

“G” opened his heart and offered unconditional  love to his “homies,”  spoke their language, and was loved and respected by them.  He suffered  keenly, even cried with them,  when one would wander into another gang’s turf and be shot , or when rival gangs would  battle it out.  He consoled their mothers as they sobbed uncontrollably at the sad news that yet another child had been killed.

The book is filled with fascinating stories, told in “gang language”, with a sprinkling of both humor and pathos, with successes and failures.  Fr. Boyle often quotes from Scripture and also from a great variety of authors, showing himself to be an extremely well-read and highly educated man, engaged not in some university but in the coarse amphitheater of the gang world.  You will find it hard to stop reading once you begin.

Simplicity, The Art of Living, by Richard Rohr

Rohr is a Franciscan priest, an internationally known spiritual leader, retreat master, speaker and the author of countless books, essays and articles on the spiritual life.  He has also written several books on the Sufi  Enneagram.  In 1971 he founded he New Jerusalem Community in Cincinnati, and later the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of which he is presently the director.

This book is Rohr at his best.  It consists of talks and sermons he gave in 1990, in several cities in Germany.  The titles of the nine chapters reveal not only the scope of his subject matter but also the originality and “freshness” of thought and expression that permeates his writing and speaking.  The titles are:  God the Father—God the Mother?;  Community Life as a Challenge;  Getting Rid of the Church;  Christians and Political Commitment;  Contemplation –the Spiritual Challenge;  The Freedom of the Sons and Daughters of God;  What Is This “Women’s Stuff”?;  The Social and Political Vocation of Christians;  and Less Is More.   Each chapter ends with questions that his audience asks of him after each of his talks.

Each answer shows the depth of spirituality, wisdom, common sense  and knowledge of Church, Society, Scripture,  Humanity and any other topic  -- that is expressed  in whatever Richard Rohr writes or says.   You will find this book both enlightening and delightful.