Acedia--or the noonday demon as the ancients called it--haunts even the best of us. In Kathleen Norris' new book on "Acedia," she intimately reveals her lifetime struggle with the force which tempts us to give up and give in to our least best self succumbing to defining life as restless boredom. As a Norris junkie as of late, her prose gives to me, the reader, unique insight into the snide demon of acedia through personal story and researched primary texts.
I am struck by her candor in revealing the saga of her husband's illness and death, not only in its facts but her reaction to it as a caregiver. I have not heard her "speak" this way before in other books or maybe I just missed it before. She speaks truth with care, not complaining or avoiding, but straight and clear.
As a person who is ill, the book's words are a healing place in both their eloquence and ability to turn my heart again to God. It may be the intimacy I find within the pages or the power of her voice which sounds familiar and like home to me that is the balm to my soul. For whatever reason, I do know it is a good book and I find God's peace and comfort as I read.
Jesus has been talking to me about acedia this November, too. Thanks for this book!
I am praying for you.
Becki
Posted by: Becki Nelson | 23 December 2008 at 12:25 PM