Snippets: The Inner Voice of Love

There are two extremes to avoid: being completely absorbed in your pain and being distracted by so many things that you stay far from the wound you want to heal.
Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love

I am in Here: The Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds Her Voice

 Virginia G. Breen and her teenage daughter Elizabeth share their story of living with autism in I am in Here:  The Journey of a Child with Autism who Cannot Speak but Finds Her Voice.  The book is organized into short chapters, punctuated by Elizabeth's poetry and descriptions of the feelings, incidents and ideas behind the poem.  Breen chronicles her journey from Elizabeth's autism diagnosis (her older son is also diagnosed with autism), to the present reality of learning to know and understand Elizabeth.  She writes of her search for healing for her daughter, involving a journey through many therapies, to the breakthrough where Elizabeth learns to communicate in writing, though she remains non-verbal.
     Breen writes honestly of both the triumphs and struggles of life with Elizabeth, allowing the reader to understand her life as the mother of a daughter with special needs.  She shares honestly about Elizabeth's challenges and difficult outward behaviours that result from her inability to communicate verbally; Elizabeth's poems and entries to the book share her feelings and perspectives on her struggle to be understood.  Breen highlights the many dimensions of her daughter's intelligence, and honours the teachers and therapists who have skillfully taught Elizabeth.  The book highlights the need to not overlook the gifts and skills of those who are unable to communicate verbally.  Perseverance in the face of difficulties is another theme running through Breen's account.
     The form of therapy Breen credits with unlocking Elizabeth's ability to communicate, the Rapid Prompting Method, is somewhat controversial, and has not been scientifically proven to be effective.  However, Breen's hopeful tone and insistence that the gifts of individuals with autism need to be unlocked and put to use is worthwhile for those who wish to understand individuals with autism.

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Classic Poetry: Though Art Indeed Just, Lord

Gerard Manley Hopkins poetry is often complex, challenging, and delightful at the same time.  This week in my reading I became acquainted with this honest prayer, published in 1918.


Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord
Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend
With thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just.
Why do sinners’ ways prosper? and why must
Disappointment all I endeavour end?

  Wert thou my enemy, O thou my friend,      
How wouldst thou worse, I wonder, than thou dost
Defeat, thwart me? Oh, the sots and thralls of lust
Do in spare hours more thrive than I that spend,
Sir, life upon thy cause. See, banks and brakes
Now leavèd how thick! lacèd they are again      
With fretty chervil, look, and fresh wind shakes
Them; birds build—but not I build; no, but strain,
Time’s eunuch, and not breed one work that wakes.
Mine, O thou lord of life, send my roots rain.

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything:  A Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin, SJ is an accessible guide to Jesuit spiritual practices, aimed at the layperson.  Martin weaves together autobiographical elements, biographical accounts from the life of Ignatius of Loyola, and descriptions of the Jesuit way of life and prayer as he invites his readers into a relationship with God.  Though a major weakness is the way in which Martin seems to view all religious paths as valid, and thus some content should be read with discernment, his book invites Christian readers into a joyful, free relationship with Jesus.
     In his introduction to Ignatian spirituality, he writes:
     The way of Ignatius is about finding freedom:  the freedom to become the person you've meant to be, to love and accept love, to make good decisions, and to experience the beauty of creation and the mystery of God's love (1).  He later expands this theme into an exploration of how to see our desires in relationship to God, and how bring our deepest desires before God in a way that shapes us towards holiness.  Later in the book, he helpfully and simply describes the five steps of the Ignatian examine as a model for reflection and confession.
     Before you begin, as in all prayer, remind yourself that you're in God's presence, and ask God to help you with your prayer.
     1.  Gratitude:  Recall anything from the day for which you are especially grateful, and give thanks.
     2.  Review:  Recall the events of the day, from start to finish, noticing where you felt God's presence, and where you accepted or turned away from any invitations to grow in love.
     3.  Sorrow:  Recall any actions for which you are sorry.
     4.  Forgiveness:  Ask for God's forgiveness.  Decide whether you want to reconcile with anyone you have hurt.
     5.  Grace:  Ask for the grace you need for the next day and an ability to see God's presence more clearly.  (97)
A major theme of Martin's exploration of Jesuit spirituality is the development of a relationship with God, and a way of viewing life that sees God in all things.  In an autobiographical reflection, he describes his realization of the nature of friendship with Jesus.
     If Jesus were my friend, he would be happy to listen to me.  He would celebrate with me over my successes and be sad with me over my disappointments.  He would want the best for me.  And he would want to spend time with me and hear about my life.  Then I wondered what Jesus of Nazareth was really like...It must have been wonderful to be around him, to have him give you support, to answer your questions.  It felt good, even exciting, to think about Jesus like this.  I started to think about wanting him as a friend. (109).
     Though many readers may not accept all practices suggested by Martin as valid or helpful in Christian worship, the book is both enjoyable and helpful in many ways.  Martin describes many ways of prayer, being with Jesus, and orienting life in relationship with God.  These gems provide a glimpse into the wonder of a relationship with God, as well as accessible suggestions to use along the journey.

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life

Summer Reading

Christianity Today's Her.meneutics blog recently posted some "mini-reviews" of suggested summer reading.  Most of the titles were new to me, but many looked quite interesting.  The recommended titles include fiction, non-fiction, and some classic works.

Get Moving: What are you Reading This Summer?

Snippets: Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Since Jesus secured my pardon and absorbed the Father’s wrath on my behalf so that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” how does that impact my longing for approval, my tendency to be controlling, and my fear of the unknown? How do the life, death, and resurrection of Christ affect my thirst for security, affection, protection, meaning, and purpose? In other words, how does the finished work of the one “exposed, ravaged, ruined, and resurrected for us” satisfy my deepest daily needs so that I can experience the liberating power of the gospel every day and in every way?   (Tullian Tchividjan, Jesus + Nothing= Everything, Kindle location 2236)

Classic Reads: The Abolition of Man

Based on a series of lectures first published in 1944, The Abolition of Man is a remarkably current argument about the nature of truth and the shaping of society.

     Lewis' argument begins with the assertion that the ability to judge correctly must be learned; value is not attributed to a thing based on emotion, but based on its intrinsic value.  He writes of the weaknesses in modern education systems that fail to teach students to judge correctly.
     In the next portion of the argument, Lewis writes against what he calls the Innovators, who search for a primitive basis for moral judgement outside of an objective standard of moral truth.  Lewis terms this standard the Tao, and writes that grounded in values held by societies across history and culture.  He writes that without a grounding in the Tao, there is no ground for accepting or rejecting any subset of values.

This thing which I have called for convenience the Tao, and which others may call Natural Law or Traditional Morality or the First Principles or Practical Reason or the First Platitudes, is not one among a series of possible systems of value.  If it is rejected, all value is rejected.  If any value is retained, it is retained.  The effort to refute it and raise a new system of value in its place is self-contradictory.  There has never been, and never will be, a radically new judgement of value in the history of the world (43)

     In the final chapter, Lewis concludes his argument that without reference to an objective system of moral truth, humanity eventually destroys itself.  Without a moral standard, power degenerates into tyrrany.

When all that says 'it is good' has been debunked, what says 'I want' remains (65)

   Lewis' argument in favour of a traditional, trans-cultural standard for value, truth, and right remains remarkably current for present discussion about society-shaping and moral values.

An open mind, in questions that are not ultimate, is useful.  But an open mind about the ultimate foundations of either Theoretical or of Practical reason is idiocy (48)

Purchase from Amazon:  The Abolition of Man

July Reading Log

July 2012 Reading List
Note: Listing a book does not constitute endorsement of its content

• Generous Justice by Timothy Keller
• The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
• An Unquenchable Thirst by Mary Johnson *  
• Everything that Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor
• Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen * 
• The Lure of the Saints:  A Protestant Experience of Catholic Tradition by Jon M. Sweeny
• Linchpin:  Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin
• The Abolition of Man by C.S Lewis
• The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by James Martin, SJ
• Would it Kill You to Stop Doing That:  A Modern Guide to Manners by Henry Alford *
• Roots of the Reformation by Karl Adam
• I am in Here:  The Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds her Voice by Elizabeth M. Bonker and Virginia G. Breen
• Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running by Dagney Scott Barrios

*Contains some objectionable content

Classic Reads: On the Incarnation

One of my goals this year has been to read more classic works.  One I read earlier in the year was On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius.  I had wrongly thought that a book of its age would be intimating- of at least that it would be difficult reading.  I was surprised by how easily I was captured by the depth of theology presented in the book, and its continuing relevance.  On the Incarnation describes the necessity of Christ's incarnation as the only solution to humanity's sin, and the work done by His death and resurrection.  Athanasius gives a compelling apologetic while drawing the believer into worship through contemplating the implications of Christ's work.


Thus by what seems His utter poverty and weakness on the cross He overturns the pomp and parade of idols, and quietly and hiddenly wins over the mockers and unbelievers to recognize Him as God.  (Kindle location 156)

What, then, was God to do? What else could He possibly do, being God, but renew His Image in mankind, so that through it men might once more come to know Him? And how could this be done save by the coming of the very Image Himself, our Savior Jesus Christ? Men could not have done it, for they are only made after the Image; nor could angels have done it, for they are not the images of God. The Word of God came in His own Person, because it was He alone, the Image of the Father Who could recreate man made after the Image. (Kindle location 404)

In a word, then, those who disbelieve in the resurrection have no support in facts, if their gods and evil spirits do not drive away the supposedly dead Christ. Rather, it is He Who convicts them of being dead. We are agreed that a dead person can do nothing: yet the Savior works mightily every day, drawing men to religion, persuading them to virtue, teaching them about immortality, quickening their thirst for heavenly things, revealing the knowledge of the Father, inspiring strength in face of death, manifesting Himself to each, and displacing the irreligion of idols; while the gods and evil spirits of the unbelievers can do none of these things, but rather become dead at Christ's presence (Kindle location 711)

On the Incarnation can be read for free at Christian Classics Ethereal Library

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Purchase the Kindle Edition

Tips for the frugal bibliophile: Making the most of your local library

One pitfall of frequent reading is the damage that it can do to your budget.  Being tempted to purchase those new and interesting titles- so easily and quickly delivered to your doorstep from the seemingly unlimited internet bookstores- is much too easy.  The antidote to some of that spending is to become a "power user" of your local public library.
     Often, on first glance, the collection at your local branch seems meager.  However, what is available is much more than meets the eye.  After getting a library card (itself an often neglected step, even by frequent readers), visit your region's online library catalogue.  After finding your desired titles, you will usually be given the option of placing a hold, and of having the title delivered to your nearest library location as soon as it becomes available.  Suddenly, the online bookstore experience is nearly replicated on the library website.  The downside is that you may need to wait for popular titles.  However, the disadvantage seems small compared to the joy of requesting any title which piques your interest, with no negative budgetary implications whatsoever.  As a bonus, DVDs and CDs can also be requested.  For those with an e-reader, may libraries now offer online e-book collections, both in print and audiobook formats.
     When deciding whether to purchase or borrow a book, an important criteria is whether the book will be a long-term addition to your home library.  A book that is likely only to be read once- often true of fiction and many "of the moment" bestsellers"- is best borrowed rather than bought.  Borrowing can also help in making good decisions about what titles are worth purchasing.  An interesting title that proves to be a less than interesting read can be discarded guilt-free.
     The library can be an excellent source of "impulse reads".  For a frugal and varied reading experience, instead of searching an online bookstore, try searching your local library.

Snippets: Successful People

Successful people are successful for one simple reason:  they think about failure differently.

Successful people learn from failure, but the lesson they learn is a different one.  They don't learn that they shouldn't have in the first place, and they don't learn that they are always right and the world is wrong and they don't learn that they are losers.  They learn that the tactics they used didn't work or that the person they used them on didn't respond (Seth Godin, Linchpin:  Are You Indispensible?" p. 115)

Lit: A Christian Guide to Reading Books

In many ways, Lit:  A Christian Guide to Reading Books is the inspiration behind this reading log.  I began reading this book when I was in a "reading rut".  I was initial skeptical of reading a book that was about reading books, but found the book to be practical and motivating as I develop goals for reading.
     The first section of the book outlines Reinke's theology of reading, explaining the importance of reading for the Christian in today's visual, media-oriented culture.  He answer the question, "
why read?", before moving on to the question of "what should I read?"  , Reinke gives practical ideas for tackling literature in different genres.  He provides tips for determining what to read, and encourages readers to read from a balanced menu of fiction and non-fiction.  This section was particularly useful in pushing me out of my "reading rut" and into re-entering the world of literary fiction (long absent from my reading diet), as well as expanding my steady diet of non-fiction books to include a wider range of genres, as well as an increasing number of classing works.
     After addressing the "why" and "what" of reading, Reinke devotes several chapters to the "how" of developing good reading habits.  His chapters include advice on how to protect time for reading, and how to develop a system of marking books.
     Reinke's book about reading is well worth the read- in the months since I have read it, I have been increasingly motivated to carve out time for reading, and have been inspired to branch into areas of reading I otherwise might have neglected.

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June Reading List

June 2012 Reading List
Note:  Listing of a book does not constitute endorsement of its content

• Meditation (NavEssentials) by Jim Downing
• Jesus + Nothing= Everything by Tullian Tchividjian
• Still:  Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis by Lauren Winner
• King's Cross:  The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus by Timothy Keller
• Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
• A Good and Perfect Gift:  Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny by Amy Julia Becker
• The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller

Beginning

I've always been a reader.  The difficult part is remembering what I've read-- or gleaning a new insight, but months later forgetting where I read it.  This blog will be an attempt to record highlights of what I am reading, and to do a better job of processing what I'm learning.  I'm also planning to share books that I'm hoping to read, as well as articles that I've found interesting or helpful.
So with that brief introduction, here we go...