Welcome the Biblio Diva, who likes to round out her thought life: take her brain for a spin, intersect with the ideas of others, then offer an occasional view on books she’s reading.
The Biblio Diva has a question for you: What if a photo essay could also be a mini-book report?
I live my life in widening circles . . .
The Biblio Diva loves to read
The quote beneath the armillary sphere comes from Rilke’s Book of Hours. She keeps that book beside her computer. Reads it often.
At present, she’s immersed in a book about gratefulness, by David Steindl-Rast.
His early chapters describe the simple, wholehearted gratefulness that brims within people spontaneously as a form of prayer, often wordless.
One way to increase this welling gratitude, he writes, is through attentiveness. But be warned:
“It is risky to be awake to life. It takes courage. . . .”
***
And yet: “The childlike heart divines springs of refreshing
at every turn.”
“Joy plays on a deep knowledge of suffering
as sunrays play on the surface of dark waterholes.
Only a heart familiar with death
will appreciate the gift of life with so deep a feeling of joy.”
***
The Biblio Diva can’t help noticing that Brother David writes about
“wonderment” as “a kind of sustained surprise”—
like unexpected coins that enrich our lives.
“Even the predictable turns into surprise the moment we stop taking it for granted.”
“In moments of surprise we catch at least a glimpse of the joy
to which gratefulness opens the door.”
***
“Surprise is the starting point.
Through surprise our inner eyes are opened
to the amazing fact that everything . . . is a gift.”
The Biblio Diva has another question for you:
Will you share what book or idea is stirring your thought life?
***
Immerse in wonderment as Brother David narrates this lovely video: “A Good Day”
Buy his book, Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer, on Amazon
Visit his website for more on Brother David Steindl-Rast
I recently finished Emily P. Freeman’s book, A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live. It’s a small, easy-to-read book that I have marked and starred all over. She quoted G.K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy, too (So, I am with you, Laurie, it’s also on my “to read” list.)
Here’s an example of thoughts that still linger in my mind:
(pg 133-134)
Our limits can be gifts if we let them be. They might show up like failure, season of life, fatigue, disability, grief, burnout. But the limits tell us important things about ourselves. They help us draw lines for margin. They pave the way for vulnerability. They sometimes show us what our passion isn’t. And that can be just as important as knowing what it is. In some cases, our limitations can actually become our inspiration.
Consider the way God creates. He is the Author of limitless potential, yet he chose men and women to live out his story in the world–God, who cannot be held back or contained, poured himself into skin and submitted himself to gravity and showed up, not just to live among us but to become one of us himself. He yielded himself to the humblest of positions in order to fulfill the greatest rescue mission in history.
Befriend narrow limits. Let them be a reminder to you that your work and your art are impossible without divine resources. You can do nothing on your own anyway. Be relieved to show up with all of your love as well as your insecurity, your skill as well as your fear. Show up in the world and be who you already are.
Show up human. Show up authentic. Show up right where you are, with two feet on your Tuesday. And when people say, The sky’s the limit! implying there is limitless potential and you can do anything you set your mind to, remember that’s simply not true, and if it were true, I’m not sure it would be a good thing. When it comes to your influence and your ability to effect change, something has to be the limit other than the sky. Identify what those things are, set your own boundaries, and leave room for your soul to breathe.
Wow, a treasury of things to ponder. Thank you for taking time to share quotes that struck you!
I read her new book, Simply Tuesday, a few months ago and dog-eared pages and highlighted and underlined like crazy. I’ll have to look for this one soon!
Grateful for the recommendation, Carol!
I have Simply Tuesday, but haven’t read it yet. Maybe it’s next. We need more hours. Heaven, right?
Oh won’t that be sublime! No paroling our instincts to over-do anymore. Let me know what you think of Simply Tuesday, whenever it finds its way into your hands and heart.
There is a great book by G. K. Chesterton called Orthodoxy; it’s essentially a collection of essays on the subject of right belief. My favorite is called “The Ethics of Elfland”. It really influenced my life in a big way. And, at every opportunity I get, I love to recommend that my friends read it.
Oscar, I’ve heard of that book but haven’t read it. Chesterton was so prolific! The title you share intrigues me. I’ll look for the book at our library. Thank you!
Now I have TWO books I need to order. I wrote a six-page personal essay yesterday. David’s quote, “Joy plays…” absolutely sums up what I wrote. Thank you for sharing! Your photographs and creative way of blogging is a gift that I always look forward to seeing. Blessings to you, Precious One.
Pacia, how delightful to be on the same wavelength, miles apart though we are. I would love to read that essay! Thanks for your kind words. My darling husband helped me pare the post down late last night. So many good lines. And I’ve only read a couple chapters so far!
I just stumbled upon a copy of Milton’s complete poems which has been on my bookshelf for over 20 years. I’ve eyed the spine many times (hey, that’s a rhyme!) but only felt led to pick it up yesterday afternoon.
I feel like the owner of a sunken treasure! I discovered his sonnet “On His Blindness” with the line, ‘they only serve who stand and wait’ which had been running through my spirit the last several days.
I then discovered he’d put several of the Psalms into verse….I’m over the moon. I look forward to what other nuggets I will find in the pages. I so love old books….
“they also serve who only stand and wait.” ooops!
Didn’t even notice the word switch, read it the way you (and Milton) intended. What a breathtaking truth he captures in one line.
Jody, what a lovely gift to read this today. I’d mentally attributed that line to Herbert. I am glad to know the true author. Now I want to read Milton’s book of poems. Thanks for sharing your sunken treasure!