Since people of different traditions staff The Word Shop, our faith and knowledge expands as we encounter the variety of perspectives. The downside is that I regularly find rare treasures from one tradition priced at a mere pittance by someone who didn't recognize the diamond in the dust. Or, as was the case last week, discovering a handful of recently acquired books stuck outside on our free shelf. "Yikes," I said gathering up Thomas Merton's SIGN OF JONAS, a book on the Trappists, and a couple of others. "These we need to price and sell."
One man's junk is another man's treasure. On Sunday after the Toastmaster's District Conference, I sat on a grassy knoll above Capitola beach with Merton's SIGN OF JONAS. Washed in the golden light of this exceptionally warm November afternoon, my shoulder muscles slowly began to loosen. Ah yes, there's nothing like sitting in glorious beauty and reading a journal of monastic life, while sipping a cafe Borgia and munching on a chocolate dipped biscotti "terrenis coelestia, humanis divina junguntur" (earthen heavenly, human divine--united)
Next thing you know I'll be reading CATTUS PETASATUS--Dr. Seuss's CAT IN THE HAT in Latin, $16.95...or maybe WINNIE ILLE PU, $13.
Bill planted, Doug watered, God gave the growth. Mariposa took the picture; Shawn, Wayne and David posted it on the website. (How many friends does it take to change a webpage?) Now you can see the nasturtiums that have rejoiced the front of The Word Shop this summer. www.companyofsaints.com Newsletters are archived there, too. Sometimes I can find out what I wrote about a book by putting the title in quotes on Google, followed by Alliee. The trick is to spell Alliee right, which all sorts of people haven't figured out yet.
"It is truly an uncreative mind that can only find one way spell a word." - Mark Twain
Lots of creative minds around The Word Shop, many waving books under my nose. I've never been particularly fond of Science Fiction; giant insects and people with strange weapons chasing each other through the galaxies. However, Bill decided I needed to read some Lois McMaster Bujold, so he brought me her Hugo Winner, CORDELIA'S HONOR. Of course once I entered in, I was hooked. Beneath the swashbuckling techno warriors flow beautiful themes of honor, leadership and reverence for human life. Here's a quote which I've been sending out in emails:
"She took the story in like some strange, spiked gift, too fragile to drop, too painful to hold." --Lois McMaster Bujold in Cordelia's Honor
Sharing stories is most of what we do at The Word Shop, despite the many notes I leave on the virtues of dusting. FOCUSING by Eugene Gendlin articulates a way of listening. A psychologist, Gendlin did a massive study on why therapy was sometimes effective and sometimes not. He discovered the difference was not so much in the therapist, but in the client's ability to listen to their own body's wisdom. Deciding that this was a simple technique that could be taught, FOCUSING was born. $7.50
Nick brought me THE POWER OF FOCUSING; A practical Guide to Emotional Self-Healing by Ann Weiser Cornell. She teaches FOCUSING in Berkeley, helping people tap into the inner language of their bodies. Her book is more immediately accessible than Gendlin's, an easy read, anecdotal, self-help book. $13.95 In her bibliography she lists BIO-SPIRITUALITY; Focusing as a Way to Grow, written by two priests, Peter Campbell and Edwin McMahon. I'm on the trail....
The sawdust trail took me to Felton Presbyterian Church, where I discovered one of those precious ministries that quietly blossom. For ten years, Joan has spearheaded cooking lunch and gathering speakers for a Tuesday program. This Lunch Bunch of 30 to 50 people includes church members and friends, retired people and homeless--all enjoying a meal and fellowship. It's amazing what happens when one person offers lunch--when a few people stake out some ground in the name of Jesus.
Another ministry, highlighted at the Toastmaster's Conference, is Christine Marie's STAR Riders founded by Dave and Linda Martin in the old Fort Ord property. Not a dry eye in the audience as we heard these Communication and Leadership Award recipients describe their horseback riding program for handicapped people and their families. Check them out at http://www.cmstarriders.com.
I'm finally reading OPUS DEI (see September 05 Newsletter). The rule of life for this international community includes lots of prayer recitation and only 10 minutes of daily spiritual reading. Abysmal! I pause and consider what kind of rule I'd create instead. What kind of rule have I already created? Maybe I should rethink it. Maybe It would be fun to rethink it in-company. We could have a group for designing a rule of life. Perfect for January. A spiritual think tank. We could call the group LIFE RULES! We could have Life Rules! bumpersitckers, journals, buttons.....
You see how I go from "that's not enough reading" to groups and bumperstickers in less than 15 seconds. You might call it a fertile mind. Weeds and flowers endlessly springing up.
"If you want to work on your art, work on your life." --Anton Chekhov
I tried the Opus Dei rule of saying "I will serve" upon awakening. Didn't fit. Instead the first line of Psalm 18 rang within. What happens for you?
Blessings,
Alliee +
"...like Jonas himself, I find myself traveling toward my destiny in the belly of a paradox." Thomas Merton in SIGN OF JONAS