It’s mid-summer! It’s been quite a ride on my annual readathon. Summer always affords me more time – and
brain-space for reading. As always, I’m
reading a pretty diverse set of books, somewhat simultaneously.
I returned from Israel almost three weeks ago with a copy of
my teacher Micah
Goodman’s newest book. I was determined to challenge myself to read it by
reading Hebrew for 30-45 minutes everyday. So far, so good. In English, its
title would translate to “Catch-67.” In this profoundly thought-provoking work
Micah delves into Zionist history, Israeli identity, the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, Jewish values and more. The last thing I expected from the book was a
page-turner. But I am tearing through it – and loving the Hebrew. (Micah tells me the English edition is at
least a year away. You might consider adding it to your list.)
For “fun” I’ve been listening to a series of audiobooks on
my car treks to and from Newton and the Berkshires, mostly mysteries. And I’m
reading a book given to me by a friend back in early June. It’s called The
Bottom of the 33rd -Hope, Redemption, and Baseball’s Longest Game,
by Dan Barry. The author recounts the story of the epic Pawtucket Red Sox game
on the Saturday night before Easter Sunday in 1981. Given the book’s title, the
game obviously ran to an incredible, historic length. It’s a delicious peek
behind the scenes of baseball, mostly smaller town, minor league baseball. I’ve
enjoyed the minors since my years living in Jackson, Mississippi. We loved taking in AA Jackson Mets (and then
Generals/Astros) games. Berry’s book has
been a fun addition to my summer dose of baseball.
I always set as a goal reading some books that I think of as
weightier. (Certainly Catch-67 fits this bill.) Ofttimes this is both a
matter of intellectual pursuit as well as what we rabbis call chomer l’drush,
which I’ll render as “sermon material.” I won’t be delivering sermons
during the upcoming Holy Day Season. Nevertheless I treasure the exercise in
terms of reading and thinking. In my time of transition, this has been especially
meaningful. One book which has me thinking is Henri Nouwen’s Aging: The
Fulfillment of Life. It was recommended by a colleague and, I have to admit,
it has me thinking a lot about life and the changes I am pursuing. In one
sense, Nouwen’s book follows other books about later life and career
transitions I read during the Spring. What I especially finding meaningful in Aging
is Nouwen’s gift of rendering facets of life through a spiritual prism. Though
he writes from a Christian perspective, he touches the human soul without regard
to doctrine. Writing primarily about life’s later stages and the life of
elders, Nouwen talks a lot about “letting go.” It’s a powerful message for me
as I
let go of one bar and look for the next one ahead of me.
In one section of the book, Nouwen offers a selection of
vignettes under the heading of “Aging as a Way to the Light.” So often, our
visions of the latter part and the end of life, are shrouded in darkness. In a
bril shift, Henri Nouwen makes it about light and speaks of the importance of
hop, humor and vision. These themes spoke powerfully to me as I look for where
I might share my light and benefit from that of others. Some examples of what has brought light to
the path for me:
“Every time life asks us to give up a desire, to change our
direction, or redefine our goals; every time…. we start a new plan, we are
invited to widen our perspectives and to touch, under the superficial waves of
our daily wishes, the deeper currents of hope.” Yes, I thought. These words I
want to carry with me in the months and years ahead.”
“I have found it very important in my own life to try to let
go of my wishes and instead to live in hope. I am finding that when I choose to
let go of my sometimes petty and superficial wishes and trust that my life is
precious and meaningful in the eyes of God something really new, something
beyond my own expectations begins to happen for me.”
And finally, “Humor is knowledge with a soft smile.” As I read these words I thought about how
often I could have used those words in recent months, even as I mark them so I
can recall them on the journey forward.
Summer marches on. I still have many books on the pile I yet
hope to tackle. Each one – fun, serious, thought-provoking – offers its gifts
for this season of renewal and introspection.
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