Atchison Blue: A Search for Silence, a Spiritual Home, and a Living Faith by Judith ValenteMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I found this book because I was digging around Google Books for books by some of the more recent authors I've been reading, especially Judith Valente and Paula Huston. Both are oblates of Benedictine monasteries and both talk about how they live out their lives as oblates- not as monks, but as ordinary people trying to apply Benedictine spirituality to their own lives. I've already reviewed one book from each. So, this seemed a logical step.
This book is more autobiographical than the previous book I reviewed. It is Valente's experiences on various retreats at St. Scholastica, in Atchison, Kansas which are the focus, especially on her encounters with various Sisters in the convent. The book focuses on how to apply the lessons she learns from the Sisters in her busy and complicated life.
Valente offers great insight into prayer, conversion and living a life of faith in the everyday world. She is honest about her shortcomings and her need for continuing conversion, which is heartening because we're all facing both our ideals and our shortcomings when we deal with people. The gentle wisdom of the Sisters leavens the book, but not in a saccharine or unrealistic way. Valente's journey is like most of ours- messy, sometimes inspiring, sometimes not, but familiar.
This is book which rewards slow reading. It is thoughtful and invites reflections. It is also likely to reward re-reading.
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