Book Review – The Way of the Heart
This gem of a book was written by the late Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest who spent his life learning what it means to be loved by God, and then helping lead others into that experience. Although it's a short book, it's the rare type that plants a seed in your soul and continues to shape and guide you long after you finished the last page.
Using the wisdom and anecdotes of the Desert Fathers, Nouwen brings us through what he considers to be the three basic disciplines required for enjoying communion with God; solitude, silence, and prayer. Most of us have our own concepts of these three powerful words, but even the most seasoned contemplative will benefit from the powerful insights that the author brings. He shows a clear path of where we must go spiritually to be still and know this God of love.
Book Review – Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things
The general population probably isn't very familiar with the mental health disorder known as hoarding. It's difficult to understand the hoarder's plight unless you can get an intimate look at their lives, struggles, and thinking processes. This is exactly what the two authors do in their book Stuff as they take the reader from house to house, many rendered nearly unlivable by the stacks of clutter pressing against the ceiling.
This book gives a fantastic overview of hoarding in general, and it's possible causes and treatments. To an outsider the hoarding of "worthless" objects to one's own detriment seems nonsensical, but the authors take us into the minds and emotions of the hoarders to better understand why they do what they do. The knowledge provided by this book is key to having compassion and understanding while dealing with those who suffer from hoarding.
Welcome to MonkShelf
I'm planning on finally getting this blog off the ground here. I'm planning on using it to write about books, theology, contemplative spirituality, mental health, and a little bit of creative writing also. Thanks for stopping by MonkShelf.