In Praise of Retreat

 Kirsteen MacLeod

ECW Press     2021

320 pages     Spiritual

Here is a synopsis of the book, In Praise of Retreat.

“For readers of Walden, Wild, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, A Book of Silence, A Gift from the Sea and other celebrations of the inner adventure. An utterly engaging dive into our modern ways of retreat ― where we go, why we’re drawn, and how it’s urgent. From pilgrim paths to forest cabins, and from rented hermitages to arts temples and quiet havens for yoga and meditation, In Praise of Retreat explores the pleasures and powers of this ancient practice for modern people. Kirsteen MacLeod draws on the history of retreat and her own personal experiences to reveal the many ways readers can step back from society to reconnect with their deepest selves ― and to their loftiest aspirations in life. In the 21st century, disengaging, even briefly, is seen by many as self-indulgent, unproductive, and antisocial. Yet to retreat is as basic a human need as being social, and everyone can benefit, whether it’s for a weekend, a month, or a lifetime. Retreat is an uncertain adventure with as many peaks and valleys as any mountain expedition, except we head inward, to recharge and find fresh energy and brave new ideas to bring back into our everyday lives.”

Retreat is not the same as sheltering-in-place which we are doing during this pandemic. Retreat is a purposeful separation from the world in order to think, write, regroup, ponder—and a whole bunch of other reflective words. MacLeod defines it thus: “A retreat means removing yourself from society to a quiet place where moments are strung like pearls, and after long days apart in inspiring surroundings, you return home refreshed and with a new sense of what you want to do with your life.” In a variety of ways, MacLeod explains what retreat means to her as well as what it meant to others through the centuries. Of course she describes what retreat meant to Henry David Thoreau, but I was especially taken with her study of the life of Leonard Cohen and what the concept of retreat meant to him.

MacLeod is an excellent writer, and her descriptions of her own retreats, from her cabin in the woods, to the wild places in the Scottish highlands make the reader yearn for some time away. She says, “In the quiet forest, I can begin to see the patterns of reality. To retreat is to stop, gain clarity and make space for change.”

I appreciated this study of retreat so much because of MacLeod's perspective and her honesty. Today, I was in great need of some solitude and quiet. I couldn’t leave home and go to the cottage or to the retreat center that I have been to in the past, so I decided I would make a retreat at my dining room table. I read MacLeod’s enlightening words and stared out my window at the bird feeder and the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks that were visiting nonstop. I took a walk to see the daffodils that are bursting all over the yard. And I practiced my deep breathing to find some clarity. MacLeod says, “Every retreat is a retreat to the self—not necessarily a place, but a state of mind and heart.” By heeding her words, I was able to find a brief respite from a difficult time in my life and find solace and rest. I rose from the table refreshed.

In Praise of Retreat will be released tomorrow. Articulate, well written, and profoundly challenging, I recommend this book to help us all navigate these uncertain times.

Hit Hard

By Patrick McLeod and Tammy McLeod

Tyndale House     2019

268 pages    Spiritual Memoir

We have all experienced great loss in our lives at one time or another, whether through death, divorce, Covid, and on and on. In their book, Hit Hard, Pat and Tammy McLeod explore the type of loss called “ambiguous loss”, a type of loss where there doesn’t seem to be a finality, and the grief is ongoing with no closure and no ultimate validation. Wikipedia defines ambiguous loss as “a loss that occurs without closure or clear understanding. This kind of loss leaves a person searching for answers, and thus complicates and delays the process of grieving, and often results in unresolved grief.” It is a concept developed by Dr. Pauline Boss and seems extremely appropriate as we are currently engulfed in the pandemic with loss ensnaring almost all of us in one form or another.

Several years ago, Zach McLeod, the McLeod’s second child, suffered a severe head injury on the football field, and since that moment his life and the life of his family has never been the same. They tell their family story in the book Hit Hard. The couple alternate in sharing their memories of that moment, the toll it took on their son and their family, and how through very hard emotional and spiritual work, they have been able to move beyond that tragic moment and deal in positive ways with the ambiguous loss it brought to them. They say that the purpose of the book is to relate to other families and individuals as they attempt to move beyond their own loss. The McLeods have just recently told their story in a video they made in February of this year, as a source of hope for families dealing with loss from Covid 19. It can be found here.

I was impressed by the huge supporting community the McLeods had around them as they dealt with this loss as well as the way in which they have channeled their loss over the years.  On the other hand, I think that they acknowledge that you can feel very alone, even when you are in a huge community. Both Pat and Tammy are pastors involved in student ministry in the Boston area; both have advanced degrees in ministry. They also are involved in mission in South Africa.

Hit Hard is extremely well written—thoughtful and insightful as well as devastating in the content. The intended audience, I believe, is anyone who is experiencing ambiguous loss, although it would be appropriate for everyone grieving loss. It is also very inspirational—showing that such great loss can lead to positive outcomes and great satisfaction.

Here are two more sites for those intrigued with their story: an interview with the family and the couple’s website.  However, when I Googled Pat and Tammy McLeod, I was able to find many articles, TV interviews, and pictures of the family over the years.

I appreciated very much the publicist sending me the book to read, and I would recommend it as a source of encouragement and hope.

 

Women Rowing North

 By Mary Pipher

Bloomsbury     2019

262 pages     Self-Help

Sometimes a book comes into your life at just the right moment. My spiritual growth book group read Women Rowing North this month. I had come home from a winter vacation with a really bad case of shingles and was feeling old and in a lot of pain as I began the book. Mary Pipher helped me focus on the good of my life experience, including the early spring, the birds that had returned to the feeder, and the care my family took of me when I was hurting badly.

More than anything, Pipher is encouraging women to accept who they are, where their life experience has brought them, and the will, strength, and grace to face the future. She encourages us to show mercy to ourselves and to others. This is a hard concept for me, because I generally tend to think of others first—such as what my husband would like for dinner, rather than what I might want. I am an accommodator, but the book showed me several ways to take care of myself. 

Pipher had a realization upon looking at a cactus in full bloom. It caused one of my favorite quotes from the book: “I realized that this cactus with its withered arms symbolized what my life would be. It would consist of thorns and fruit, pain and beauty. My body would age; my soul would expand.”

One of my friends really connected with the chapter about women who are caregivers. She is the caregiver for her husband whose health is deteriorating rapidly. She said that she really needed to hear what Pipher had to say on the topic. She is also experiencing a lot of loneliness because her husband is in a care facility. Pipher speaks to that as well in a chapter on loneliness and solitude.

My favorite chapter was about building a good day. Until very recently, I have been working most of my days at my computer editing graduate student work. When I stopped doing that work, I felt such a loss of purpose. Pipher spoke to me when she says, “There is no magical future. Today is our future.” Especially meaningful was this comment: “Life becomes so much simpler when we find we are in no hurry.” A friend’s husband died a week ago after a long illness. He was at home under hospice care. The children and grandchildren  came home to spend time with their parents in the days before his death, and now they are spending the weeks following his death celebrating his life in their childhood home. I appreciated this statement so much when thinking about my friends: “When times are tough, think short-term. Long-term we are all going to die. But short-term, we can plan for happiness, one day at a time. If life is particularly rough, think in terms of the next ten minutes.”

The Washington Post reviewer felt the book was trivial with several words overused such as “bliss”, “transcendence”, and “awe.” Another reviewer was kinder and felt that Pipher upended the myths of female aging. The reviewer felt that Pipher’s primary goal was to instill in women the concept of self-acceptance. The Library Journal reviewer said that “This is bound to become the bible of baby boomer women.” NPR named it one of the best books of the year.

It is my hope, as is Pipher’s, that my friends and I will be able to rise above the inescapable pain that we will inevitably suffer and “experience bliss.”  

 

The Paris Library

 By Janet Skeslien Charles

Atria     2021

368 pages     Historical Fiction

The Paris Library is the librarian’s dream book—a young librarian saves the world with books! With the Dewey Decimal System thrown in. Well, not exactly, but sort of. Honestly, it is much more than that. The book deals with a little-known aspect of World War II in France; its impact on the arts and culture of the city.

Odile Souchet is a young woman who has just gotten a job at the American Library in Paris. The library is one of the centers of American culture in Paris and the gathering spot for American scholars and researchers as well as American families living in the city. After the invasion, Jews are not allowed to enter the library, so Odile and the other librarians send books to the Allied troops stationed around France and sneak books to their Jewish patrons, an obvious act of resistance. When she realizes that her father and other police officers are putting the city’s Jewish population into internment camps, she feels confused and betrayed. Especially by Paul, her fiancé, who is a police officer as well. She does everything she can to continue to serve her patrons and save them from capture. As the war ends, Paul is involved in one final, major act of betrayal which causes Odile to forsake everything and escape Paul, her family, and the library that has given her strength.

Juxtaposed with this story line is the story of Lily, a teenager living in small-town Montana in 1983 and yearning for a bigger life. Odile is her elderly, reclusive neighbor. Lily wonders how this French woman ever got to Montana and sets out to understand her story. The friendship the two form ends up being healing for both of them and moves the story forward in unexpected ways. It, in itself, is a lovely story.

Just recently, I read of some art work that was hidden from the Nazis and recently recovered. So, reading about the hiding of first editions of classic literature and the defiance of librarians was not unexpected. I have always maintained that librarians are among the champions of the rights of the people, and it was affirmative for me to read of these women and men and their fight to protect the library, its books, and its patrons.

The author, Janet Charles, was the program manager at the American Library when she started to hear the stories of the resistance and the brave librarians at the American Library. This caused her to do a great deal of meticulous research into these brave souls, many of whom are portrayed in context, although Odile is the creation of the author. Additionally, the author grew up in small-town Montana so she understands well Lily’s need to move into a bigger world.

The Library Journal has a very astute look at the library and the librarians who appear in the novel. The article talks about Miss Reeder, the director of the library, who appears in the novel, all the books that they delivered, and with Dr. Fuchs, the Nazi “Library Protector” who appeared off and on to inspect the library. Additionally, the author has included on her website some of the research she used in developing the novel. There are pictures, newspaper articles, and reports. It really resonates.

The Kirkus review concludes that The Paris Library is a “novel tailor-made for those who cherish books and libraries.” Although there are a monumental number of World War II books out and about these days, The Paris Library deserves readers’ attention.