Practicing Peace [Paperback]

I don't know if I've written a book review since high school or college 30-40 years ago but I loved this book when I first read it in draft, and even more now, so I just have to say so. As I'm anything but an egghead, it's a delight not to have to plough through Kierkegaard or other heavyweights and yet to still get a chance to think about several centuries of profound insights in bite-sized pieces. Plus it makes me laugh--not a lot, to be sure, but every once in a while I'm startled into laughing right out loud.

The book builds so gently with carefully-organized chapters, from loving ourselves and spiritual renewal through parenting and money--I particularly appreciated the one on beauty and joy--and by the time it gets to the terrifying bits, like people sacrificing their lives for peace (Jesus, for one, of course), it still manages not to overwhelm me with guilt for the world's plight but invite me ever so lovingly to consider what I might do. The author was what we Friends call "clerk" of my meeting when I first met her, and she is one of those who not only sees the best in us, but makes it come true by her having seen it there. Her book is like that.

On the other hand, one of the modern quotations in it (on page 195) echoes what the original Quakers knew, that "many people hate [the light of God within us] because it condemns their behavior." I was surprised by the bit of behavior of mine that the book brought to my attention to be condemned. It was in the chapter about fear. Now when I was young I had driven the Quaker van around burning barricades in Belfast and felt upheld by God's love and the love of the people on the ground who took me and my frightened vanload in until the gunfire calmed down. I had not feared the chapter on fear. And yet, it struck home in an unexpected way---the "fear of looking stupid" (page 171). In meeting for worship a little while after reading that and the chapter on the costs of witnessing, I saw that it is not the fear of getting my name "on the suspect-lists of patriotic watchdog organizations" (page 232) but the fear of being unpopular with my congregation (also page 232)--my very own meeting--that has kept me too silent in the past year.

Finally, I like the typeface and layout of the book. The stories are short enough that I can remember the gist to tell friends at dinner when various topics arise and the book is easy enough to read that I can pull it from my bag and flip through it quickly to find a precise quote when I want it, and so far I've wanted to do that quite often!

i would diffently repurchase over & over again. A Great Book for gifting !! This BOOK is Amazing..
Thank you "C"

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