No, it’s not a rhetorical question…I invite you to share what it is you might be reading (or have read) that makes your heart glad and/or your soul sing. Perhaps I’ll make a sidebar item listing your suggestions…
The sun was shining today, and I decided to spend a little time outside. I also wanted to get to the Royal Oak Library to pick up a book, so I decided to walk…about a 5-mile round trip. Gave me some exercise AND some time to reflect.
The book I was going to borrow is one that has been around a while, but I had never read it. It’s called “The Spirituality of Imperfection.” I haven’t read past the introduction yet, but it promises to be a great read with which to end the year and start a new one. The authors give credit to the founders and members of Alcoholics Anonymous for bringing this age-old approach to living a spiritual life an articulation for modern times. Perhaps one of the greatest afflictions many of us suffer is the inexorable striving for perfection, the shame that comes when we discover we fall short, the inability to admit to a mistake, etc.
Yesterday I was reading a journal article that mentioned a study of professors at the University of Nebraska. When asked about the quality of their teaching, 96% considered themselves to be “above average.” I can certainly understand why this distorted perception exists. It’s a little disconcerting to think I might be “only” an average teacher when I put so much passion, effort, so much of myself into the preparation and the actual encounter with my students. It’s a little easier to consider when I recognize that many professors are trying as hard as I am to be great teachers, and being average in a crowd of superachievers isn’t so bad after all. The other thing I need to consider is that if I see myself as better than the majority of teachers, there’s not as much motivation to improve, and God knows, there’s always room for improvement.
The problem is that it seems to me that we live in a society that is constantly telling us: “put your best foot forward,” “keep a stiff upper lip,” “don’t let anyone see your weaknesses,” etc. To even admit that there might be something about my teaching that could stand some improvement can be pretty scary if everyone else around me is trying to make their case for being named “professor of the year.” The good news is that I have some colleagues who care deeply about teaching and who aren’t afraid to admit that they could be better. So no need to go it alone…
No wonder that the first word of the first step of AA is “WE”.
I picked up a non-fiction book called Galileo’s Daughter. It’s essentially a biography of Galileo, but it has drawn me in with its letters from Galileo’s daughter, a cloistered nun, and the trials and tribulations of his life as a faithful Catholic and pioneering scientist in the crosshairs of the Inquisition. Surprisingly readable stuff.
I’m ready for some suggestions about a good novel to pick next, so I’ll be watching this space…
I appreciated your comments very much. I too just started reading the Spirituality of Imperfection and am learning a lot. It has much insight. You are right, our culture fears weakness and vulnerability like the plague. AA has so much to teach us. As this book says, it is through our woundedness that we go to God. Blessings to you!
Natty, I think I read Galileo’s Daughter a while ago and found myself similarly fascinated. It was indeed very readable. In fact, so readable that I didn’t know it was non-fiction! Of course, my memory may be betraying me…
Sarah, thanks for chiming in…
Another old thread resurrected!
I am reading:
Walden (Thoreau)
Jesus Through the Centuries (Pelikan)
Spiritual Direction & Meditation (Merton)
Ezekiel and Micah (filling in the gaps between the readings for Mass & the Office of Readings, respectively, since those skip around a bit)
Can’t read just one book at a time!
On my recent hermitage retreat I read Seeds of Grace: A Nun’s Reflections on the Spirituality of Alcoholics Anonymous
[I don't see any formatting buttons to italicize or underline the titles..... maybe because this is archived already.]
Regina, thanks! By all means, let’s keep this thread going! I’m reading a book by Elizabeth Johnson – Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints.
As for the formatting, on comments you must insert the proper HTML tag to get these effects.
I completely agree about perfection being a terrible thing to strive for. That book sounds very interesting. I can understand wanting to “do your best”, so to speak, but I think the overachieving culture in our society is ridiculous. Being a decent human being, and a happy human being, just isn’t good enough apparently. I work with elementary school kids whose days are packed with activities and classes and tons of homework. Which ironically, though logically, only makes them tired and frustrated, and it only gets worse as they get older.
Anyway, back to what I’ve been reading, I just finished “The Spiral Staircase” by Karen Armstrong, who, you may know, is an ex-nun. She’s a fantastic writer, and it’s a beautifully written book. It’s mostly about her readjusting to life without being a nun – it’s really very good.
Amen, Samantha! Thanks for reminding me of Armstrong’s book…I recall an NPR interview sometime ago, but never got around to reading the book…it’s back on my list of things to read.
Samantha, your words about schoolkids reminded me of something else I read recently: an article in Mothering magazine about home-schooling. A cousin of mine does it, and it sounds wonderful! Almost makes me wish I had kids, just so I could home-school them, LOL. I always chuckle at myself, when I go to the chiropractor’s office, it’s always Mothering that I (the childless celibate) pick up to read. It’s a great magazine!
Regina – I can’t say I agree with you on homeschooling. I would want my kids to be exposed to a diversity that I don’t believe is really possible with homeschooling. I would be uncomfortable with my kids being that sheltered from the world. And then there’s the fact that I could never be able to teach them anything related to science or math. That’s hilarious that you read Mothering magazine though. If you do become a consecrated hermit, I say you get a subscription delivered to the monestary, just so you can see the mailman’s face.
Sister, I’ve heard about that interview on NPR but have yet to hear it! I love Armstrong. I get lost in some of her stuff towards the end of the Spiral Staircase, but I find a lot of her process easy to relate to.
Actually, Samantha, one of the things the author of the article laughed about is her husband asking “if you’re homeschooling, why aren’t you ever home?” They have plenty of chances to interact with others, just not stuck in a classroom all day.
But this is going off-topic, in a subject I know almost nothing about — everything I know I’ve already said, and it’s all 2nd or 3rd hand. I just wasn’t really happy in school myself, so I love the idea of home-schooling.
Samantha, try this link to listen to that interview…not sure it’s the same one I heard, but should be good nonetheless.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1796818
Regina – that makes a lot of sense. Kids spend so much time cooped up in classrooms. I don’t know much about homeschooling either, I must admit. And some school environments are quite cruel, unfortunately. My middle school was “almost” homeschooling – well, not really, but it was very very small (12 people in my grade!) and a lot of the difficulties of junior high were alleviated by that.
Sister, thanks for the link!! I am so listening to that this afternoon.
I want to read Through the Narrow Gate, which I believe Karen wrote when she was still in the convent.