Posted on by PeaceBang

Let’s Talk About Books

I know this isn’t our usual subject, darlings, but this is a personal favor. I realize that I don’t use most of the books in my lovely personal library. I’ve read most of them, I treasure many of them, but I feel that I need a serious overhaul in my worship resources section, which includes poetry, anthologies, essays and theology.

What I especially seek are collections such as Spiritual Literacy: Reading The Sacred In Everyday Life by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. You know, those “little gem” books.

My tradition is not Christian, so please keep that in mind. We draw wisdom from many world traditions and although we’re not allergic to Jesus Christ, we are more broadly Theist, pantheistic and Humanist.

I am also hoping to find recommendations for really hot theology — heavyweight suggestions.

I read a huge amount of sociological type stuff online and in the newspapers and magazine subscriptions, so unless something is super fab, that’s not the subject matter I’m looking for.

Thanks for inspiring me.

5 Replies to “Let’s Talk About Books”

  1. Heaven’s Face Thinly Veiled is an anthology of spiritual poetry by women, from a range of cultural backgrounds and throughout history, that I’ve returned to again and again over the years.

  2. One book that has been feeding me lately is A Year with Hafiz: Daily Compilations, Daniel Ladinsky. The daily readings as of late have been life for me. With some edits, these could be wonderful wisdom texts in worship settings. I can’t set aside this one from from last week:

    I have come into the world to see this: the sword drop from men’s hands even at the height of their arc of anger because we have finally realized that there is just one flesh to wound and it is His — the Christ’s, our Beloved’s.

    I have come into the world to see this: all creatures holding hands as we pass through this miraculous existence we share on the way to even a greater being of soul, a being of just ecstatic light, forever entwined and at play with Him.

    I have come into this world to hear this: every song the earth has sung since it was conceived in the Divine’s womb and began spinning from His wish, every song by wing and fin and hoof, every song by hill and tree and woman and child; every song of stream and rock, every song of tool and lyre and flute, every song of gold and emerald and fire, every song the heart should cry
    with magnificent dignity to know itself as God; for all other knowledge will leave us again in want and aching — only imbibing the glorious Sun will complete us.

    I have come into the world to experience this: women and men so true to love they would rather die before speaking an unkind word, women and men so true their lives are His covenant–the promise of hope.

    I have come into the world to see this: the sword drop from men’s hands even at the height of their arc of rage because we have finally realized, we have finally realized there is just one flesh we can wound and it is our own.

    Will be eager to see what else is shared.

  3. ‘Psalms for Zero Gravity’ by Edward Hays is a collection of prayers/poetry/meditations. It has a wonderful litany of All the Saints of God, praising the holy people of many faiths, which I’ve found a useful springboard for interfaith gatherings. Hays is a Christian, but the tenor of his work reads more like a Sufi – some of his work references Christianity, some doesn’t, and it all has a familiar, intimate tone.

  4. Not technically spiritual – but definitely in spirit. The Art of Losing:Poems of Grief and Healing- edited by Kevin Young- An amazing compilation that has introduced me to lots of poets and has some great theological jumping off points. It is really remarkable.

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