Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Mysterious Ways

  Recently my book club assigned a book on the pursuit of happiness.  I was a bit dubious  before opening the book, after all, I hold to the philosophy that happiness cannot be found by seeking it.  I'm in good company. Aristotle held that one could find genuine happiness only in a life of virtue and just action. John Stuart Mill famously declared,  Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so.
An even more poignant assessment of happiness comes from Holocaust survivor, Victor Frankl. 

Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. 

   So, I admit I began the book with a bias but nothing I read changed my view.  I found the premise inward looking, suggesting all life decisions should be made on the basis of what would result in personal happiness, not what would serve the greater good.  For me, the author appeared shallow and self-centred.  
    Convinced I was done with the whole happiness thing, I closed the book and crafted a negative review for my book club.

   But the story doesn't end there.  Because one book irritated me so much, I found another that has filled my soul and opened my eyes to grace in a thousand ways.  The book is One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  Here the author recounts how she challenged herself to write down one thousand blessings that she already has, one thousand ways to find grace and soul-joy in the midst of every day life with all its hurts and ugliness as well as its moments of beauty and peace.

    The writing is dense, layered and poetic.  This is not a book I can read in a few sittings.  I read two or three pages, then put it down and contemplate Ann's words, taking time to process and discover the deepest meaning.  I'd objected to the first book as being too shallow, this one took me deep and then deeper, into the heart and mind of a true follower of Christ.  No mere "pursuit of happiness" here.  On these pages, the reader follows the struggle to find Christ in moments of pain or disfigurement or bereavement.  
     This book has enlarged me, opened me, filled me . . . and I can't stop talking about it.
     Without the first book, I might never have found the second.  I thank God and His mysterious ways for bringing me to One Thousand Gifts.
I highly recommend this book, the first item on my gratitude list.  What's on yours?


A writer, a reader, a gardener and a knitter, a singer, a teacher, a learner and a wife, Alice is now starting her own gratitude list.  One thousand seems like a very great number but no where near the number of blessings God has showered on me.  
I hang out at www.alicevaldal.com or atfacebook.com/#!/alice.valdal.5


14 comments:

  1. I love this book, and Ann's blog too- http://www.aholyexperience.com/
    Subscribing to the blog and getting that daily post into my inbox is a real blessing. A deep and sometimes painful reminder of all we have to give thanks for, and that true happiness can only be found in surrendering ourselves and our lives to God.

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  2. Maybe we should start a fan club. I'm on the look out for the devotional inspired by "One Thousand Gifts." I prefer a book in hand to an electronic post -- there's a gift for my list -- beautiful books!

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  3. Such a high recommendation, Alice. Thank you. It sounds wonderful.

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  4. It really is wonderful, Rita. I was speaking with my minister today about the possibility of using her work in a Bible Study group. We've just finished Revelation and need a change of pace!

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  5. Thanks, Alice. I love the neat way God used to get you to the place of reading 'One Thousand Gifts'. I have seen this book recommended highly before and never got around to buying a copy, but now this post of yours will in turn spur me on to read it! For a 'glass half empty' person like me, I think this book will be invaluable.

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    1. Jo-Anne, if your glass is half empty, this really is a book for you. She spends a couple of pages examining the beauty and gracefulness of a soap bubble while doing the dishes. I think that is what is so amazing to me. We don't have to travel the world or read every book in the library. We just have to open our eyes to what is around us in abundance. Enjoy

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  6. I really must read this book as I have heard so many good and encouraging things about it. We do have so much to be thankful for no matter what we are facing. I'm might be a cup half full kind of person, but still need those reminders constantly!

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  7. My niece gave me a lovely, leather-bound journal for Christmas. It has been sitting, unused on my desk since then. Yesterday, I opened it to start my own gratitude journal -- I'm going to need practice! Not because I've a shortage of blessings, but because I need to open my eyes to see them.

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  8. Love how God works that even the negative book could be used for good to bring you to one that blessed you. So easy to whinge about things rather than remember our blessings. Thanks for the reminder.

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  9. Hi Alice - Ann's book was pivotal for me in changing my ongoing dialogue with the Lord. I too am a bit of a raving fan of it and her work in general. I've worked through a number of the follow-on books that have come out since its original release. I'd heartily encourage you to grab those as well.

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    1. Thanks, Ian. Glad to know the fan club is growing.
      Yes, Dale, I'm always startled by the "mysterious ways."

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  10. Sounds like a great book to have. Thanks Alice! The ripples have reached South Africa.

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  11. Alice, lovely post. Thanks for sharing your journey to One Thousand Gifts :) btw, your post was mentioned on the Australasian Christian Writers blog yesterday in the comments.

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    1. Thanks for telling me, Narelle. World Wide Web, ain't it amazing! :-)

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