On the Nightstand: January 2015

by Melanie on January 1, 2015

in Catholicism, Newsletter, Nonfiction, On the Nightstand, Spirituality

Last month for Living Faith, I wrote about the joyous curveball God tossed to Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, and heard at the site and via email from a few folks. One mentioned a book called The Joy of Full Surrender byJean-Pierre de Caussade, a Jesuit priest. joyoffullsurrenderIt seemed like the perfect resource with which to start the year, at least for someone like me who so has trouble living in the “sacrament of the present moment” instead of obsessing about what’s over the next hill.

Looking forward to tarrying with some of these reflections!  What’s on your nightstand?

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Kate McGuinness January 1, 2015 at 8:34 pm

Your description of “The Joy of Full Surrender” made me think of one of several books I’m reading now. It’s called “Radical Acceptance” and is written by Tara Brach, a Buddhist psychotherapist. It appears both authors are addressing the topics of acceptance and being present.

Another book that I keep going back to is “Self Compassion” by Kristin Neff, a professor at UT. Both Brach and Neff advocate mindfulness, a practice that I have found to be helpful. Perhaps Father de Cassaude would endorse Neff’s formula that suffering = pain x resistance. Surrender or acceptance eliminates resistance.

Thank you for the free download of A Few Seconds with the Saints. I look forward to reading their wisdom.

Melanie January 2, 2015 at 6:06 pm

Thanks, Kate! I’ll definitely check them out as well. I keep thinking if I keep searching, one will stick!

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: