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Reviewed by The Rev. Saundra D. Richardson
1/4/2000
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan 313/833-4418 saundr@ibm.net
In the Spirit of Happiness is about discovering the principles of an integrated spiritual life and authentic happiness. It's a book to which I was drawn by the title and front cover. The call to purchase it was clenched by the back cover comments of Presiding Bishop Griswold and Peter Gomes of Harvard University and later perusing the table of contents. However, I have come to since discover, it was by grace. The cover, title and comments were simply instruments to draw me to what I later found were truths and reality for my life. And not only for my life, but for others, for Jubilee 2000 and for the diocesan transition. This was also a book which I found to be extremely helpful as I began reading it on the third day of a five day silent retreat at Holy Cross Monastery.
Upon nearing completion of
the book on December 29th, the Spirit led me to begin writing a review
to share the message with others. On Christmas I, at Christ
Church, Detroit, I reflected on portions of it in my sermon.
The Word which became flesh is incarnate in each of us. The
spirit of happiness, the pursuit of happiness is in each of us. The
hunger we feel along this pilgrimage for happiness, love, completeness
can be found inside each of us and in our many encounters with others.
And how does this happen? It happens through a greater awareness
of ourselves, say the Monks. It is in silence we can become
more in touch with ourselves.
"Only by owning it, facing the exterior silence directly and honestly, will we ever move in the direction of inner silence, and the peace that allows us true freedom. The reason for silence is not to be an end in itself, but to be the means whereby we can listen to ourselves, and to everything around us." p.123"We'll do anything, no matter how outlandish, to avoid facing our own souls. And yet everything we need to grow in self-knowledge is right here inside us, if only we'd stop and take a look." p.124
Through lectio divina, sacred reading, we let the Word master us. Prayer, meditation and silence can enable us to hear and respond to God speaking to us in the Word. "Only by training ourselves to calm down and listen can we begin to recognize the word of God in everything, even the most mundane utterances of life." p.145
Community is important
for celebration. It enables us to joyfully experience ourselves as
a part of a bigger reality. These are illustrations of that reality
- Sunday worship, the February 5, 2000 Consecration of Wendell Gibbs as
Bishop Coadjutor, Convention worship and other liturgies that bring together
a broader segment of the diocesan household.
Chapter 11, "What does Love
Look Like?" is a question for which many are seeking.
"Our intentional thoughts and acts of love create a further readiness to love within us, which in turn, enables us to form the habit of loving, to practice the art of loving." p.250
The Monks state that
love looks like generosity (giving), gratitude, friendliness, and genuine
interest in those we meet.
Love and happiness are intertwined
in a number of ways, including forgiveness. Forgiveness of
self and others is needed to truly reach the happiness for which we all
hunger. Forgiveness frees us to love
more fully. Forgiveness allows us to be more freely the persons
God would have us be. Without forgiveness of our self and others,
past wrongs and shortcomings eat away at our centers.
"… each of us is in need of being in a relationship of forgiveness with God, and this can only occur as we stand in a relationship of forgiveness with others. Nevertheless, we have to get hold of ourselves; we have to face up to these emotions, these feelings, and these angry thoughts lest they destroy us. . . . We have to calm ourselves inwardly and outwardly and come to the realization that there will be no peace in the world unless there is peace in our hearts and that forgiveness is one of the greatest creators of peace in the world." p.299
Whether in a family, congregation,
committee, agency, bishop's staff or diocesan household, there are
situations from living and working closely in which one is hurt or offended.
The monks response to this speaks not only to these situations, but living
out Jubilee 2000.
"Unless we can be humble enough to speak to each other about these occasions, to communicate honestly because we trust each other - and then be willing to forgive whenever necessary, the bonds that keep us
together will become strained and our love for one another will grow cold. ... There will always be situations in which we get irritated, or in which we've been hurtful. That's simply part of being human.
What's more important than that these things occur is that we are ready always to apply the salve of forgiveness when they do, that the healing and mercy characteristic of God may bring about in us a bit more of the kingdom.… How are we going to build a truly just society without a real forgiveness? We are all too ready self-righteously to sacrifice our brothers and sisters on the altar of justice without considering what is
included in such justice." p.303
Jubilee 2000 is
a time to bring equilibrium to creation - nature and humanity. Part
of this is fallow time - silence. How about intentionally scheduling
silent retreats and quiet days with meditations? Foster lectio divina
via the daily office and praying the psalms.
I commend to you "In the Spirit of Happiness" as a Jubilee 2000
resource for individual or group spiritual enhancement. This is but
one tool, one instrument to make Jubilee possible for all times.
Jubilee begins
with each of us and can be found within each of us. Take time
to let it be revealed in each of us.
Please
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