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Ë®¹ûÊÓƵbodies - The books on my bedside table

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Published on Saturday, October 10, 2015

By Rita Friesen

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On my bedside table… There are always a number of books awaiting me. When the stack begins to lean precariously, I sort and re-start the priority reading. Top five, not in order of urgency!

 â€˜A Hidden Wholeness, The Journey Toward an Undivided Life’, Parker J. Palmer. The author encourages us to listen with intent. Listen to others, but more importantly become quiet enough to hear our spirit speak to us. When we find a circle of people we trust, and that may be simply one or two other people, our soul feels safe enough to show itself. And when that occurs we find purpose and meaning for our journey.

Never far away is ‘ A Deep Breath of Life’ daily inspiration for heart- centered living, by Alan Cohen. Each day’s reflection contains a theme, a quote of wisdom, a parable or real life anecdote, a prayer and an affirmation. ‘Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good; try to use ordinary situations.’ – Jean Paul Richter. And a sentence from that day that inspired me - ‘never underestimate the power of a kind word or act. Even if your gift does not seem to be received, your heart will soar. My simplest words and acts change the world, beginning with me.

Study book: ‘The Enneagram, a Christian Perspective’ by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert. The Enneagram helps determine a personality type, the strengths and weaknesses the type faces in every day living and words of encouragement. I am a type two, with a strong need to serve others, but needing to draw personal limits, granting me space and place to grow and stay strong. I call for ‘turtle days’, days where I retreat from most demands on my time and energy, long walks, good books, friendship and solitude recharge my batteries.

‘Learning to Walk in the Dark’, Barbara Brown Taylor. “Darkness is shorthand for anything that scares me – either because I do not have the resources to survive it or because I do not want to find out.’ Too often we have equated darkness with evil, some residual lessons from our early faith instructions!  The author encourages us to re-evaluate our relationship to the dark, literally and figuratively. Good, easy reading with deep impact.

Last on the list, but frequently embraced, ‘Markings’, Dag Hammarskjold.  Best known for his two terms as Secretary-general of The United Nations, 1952 – 1961 when he died in the line of duty. He was killed in an air crash while flying to North Rhodesia to negotiate a cease- fire. Just one quote from the book, which is a series of diary like entries. “So rests the sky against the earth. The dark still tarn in the lap of the forest. As a husband embraces his wife’s body in faithful tenderness, so the bare ground and trees are embraced by the still, high, light of morning.. I feel and ache of longing to share in this embrace, to be united and absorbed.’