Review: Becoming an Ordinary Mystic

This book is a waste of time.  I needed to read this book.  That about summarizes my perceptions of Fr. Albert Haase’s words, and the sequence in which he presented them.

He began by writing about living in the present moment, and self-awareness and humility.  I had some underlines in the text of my book, but yadda, yadda, yadda dominated my thoughts as I ultimately underlined nothing in Chapter 6, and wondered if I should move on to a more challenging, interesting book.  Then I read Chapter 7 titled:  Groping in the Dark; Walking by Faith Not Sight. 

He spoke there of his 10-year mission in China, and then how the government found out and he had to leave, “an end to my forty-five-year-old dream of being a missionary to China.”  Afterward, for years he accepted assignments in the United States, but hung onto old friends, foods, and thoughts of China.  “I clung to my past self-image.”  Then he mentioned his disappointments in a talk he gave, and a woman responded: “Father, after hearing your story, I couldn’t help but think, with all the traveling and preaching that you do, you’re still very much a missionary --- but not in a foreign land.  You’re a missionary to your own country!”  And he was taken aback, “and a new light dawned upon me.  I was born again as mystery (God’s word he wouldn’t/couldn’t hear) blossomed into meaning.”

Fr. Albert Haase ended that chapter with Thomas Merton’s prayer:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.  I do not see
the road ahead of me.  I cannot know for certain where it will
end.  Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am
following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please
you.  And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.  I hope
that I will never do anything apart from that desire.  And I know
that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may
know nothing about it.  Therefore, I will trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.  I will not fear,
for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.

And then I began to see the value of this book, and specifically I saw the remaining chapters in a new light, of mystery unfolding, of explaining my life.  And there were lots of underlines!

If you are impatient (like me), you may want to start this book on Chapter 7, but I’m not sure if you will have missed something critical, even if fleeting, in the earlier chapters.  They’re kind of like my life, when I really don’t understand why things are happening in it, and I can’t perceive God’s presence.  It seems kind of like yadda, yadda, yadda.

But it isn’t.

Review: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

The author of this book is an extremely intelligent man, raised in a strongly orthodox Muslim family in the United States, where his father was a navy officer.  Growing up, “My Muslim heritage was a detriment for many would-be-friends and their families.  I was very lonely.”  Just as Americans had pre-conceptions about Muslims, they had similar issues: “The average Muslim immigrant expects people in the West to be promiscuous Christians and enemies of Islam.”

The book provides clear explanations of Muslim teachings and traditions.  It explains clearly their pillars of faith, and it shows the importance of faith and family --- and how they go together.  And so, you begin to understand why a Muslim would not consider any other faith, for he would not just be rejecting the faith he was raised on, he would be rejecting his family, his very close-knit loving family.  But Nabeel Qureshi was always a little different; he asked questions, which a devout Muslim should never do.  When he met and befriended a fellow college student, a Christian, they had many talks about what the believed and why it made sense.  And when there was a question of facts, they both began deep research.

This book is the story of the facts they, together as friends, uncovered.  And at a certain point, Nabeel had to say: “These are the facts, the truth.  I must accept that believing them I am a Christian.”  Most reluctantly, he became a Christian.

I found “inside information” about how a Muslim thinks most informative and interesting.  I found the truths discovered and reluctantly accepted most compelling, although I know even more compelling facts not mentioned in the book.  I plan to give this book to young weak or fallen-away Catholics, in hopes they might find the read – and facts --- compelling enough to overcome their ignorance of the truths of the Catholic faith.

I can hope …

Friends on the Spiritual Journey

The 4^th Sorrowful Mystery:  The Carrying of the Cross

I thank the Father for giving me friends, help for the journey.

I invited a number of friends to go out to dinner last night, but only one could make it.  I picked her up, since with her weakening eyesight she no longer drives in the evening hours.  The weather at the outdoor restaurant was most pleasant, and the tables were all filled.  I deliberately chose an outdoor location, because I knew our conversation would be loud --- my friend’s weakening hearing dictates loud talk.  The food was just “okay”, but I really wasn’t that hungry.  Perhaps writing these words about things not being perfect, you might get the idea that I had a bad evening; you would be wrong.

I’ve come to accept that little is perfect in this life, and seek and accept joy where I can find it --- even in sorrows.  I’ve written about how the faith walk is a life’s journey, and often people are at differing spots on the journey --- they’re seeing different scenery, if you will, and it’s sometimes hard to have a conversation with others about where they or you are.  But sometimes you meet someone who is in the same area, and you can stop and smell the roses together.  Although the conversation was loud last night, and we have vastly differing family lives, yet my friend and I were near the same spot in our faith journeys.  The conversation was rich, in one way, yet simple in another --- some words didn’t have to be said.  We understood when God was part of the story.  Sometimes we echoed each other’s words.  She told me of a recent sorrow in her life and was quick to add “but there is a reason for that.”  There was HIS reason, she didn’t need to explain.  As we sat and ate we gazed o the beauty of the nearby park, and saw God’s presence and love there.  Even in silence, we enjoyed each other’s company.

It was very good night, although the food was so-so and I barely remember the conversation, still, I felt a joy at the time we were together, not totally unlike the quiet time I spend in the chapel with another Friend.

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One of the things my friend and I spoke of last night was how we sometimes hear God’s call, or what we perceive to be His call, and we try to act on it.  Sometimes we see results --- a blessing --- but often we don’t, but trust “there is a reason.”  And then, this morning Fr. Mark told us how we need to see the wonder and awe of God in our lives, breathe in His blessings and His everyday presence.  Trust.  Wonder.  Awe.

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Yesterday morning I was buying my usual lottery ticket, but had a sudden urge to stop.  “Buy one of those scratch-offs, Abby,” I said, and then I left the ticket for her to scratch off, a tiny pause in her tedious day.  Today, when I went to the store Erica yelled: “Tom, you won!”  She handed me $50 and the winning scratch-off ticket.  And I gave her a share, and will share with Abby and the others as I see them.  God’s little blessings in our day are meant to be shared.

I thank the Father for giving me friends, help for the journey
--- whether to help carry my cross, or share in His blessings.