Report from a Trappist Monastery...

I really thank God for great books. Since finding great and quality books seems more and more difficult, when that odd good one appears... it's something to be cherished. When I get discouraged, depressed, weak and weary, books really lift and inspire my spirit.

I've been stressing over getting this paper done for my Spiritual Formations class. We are required to integrate our experience at the Spiritual Formations Retreat with Henry Nouwen's book, Genesee Diary, compiling it to make a concise 3-page paper. I hate the pressure of having to write about something with limited resources, time and lack of inspiration. I started the book a few weeks back and found it a bit tedious... (everyone bigged it up way too much for me). It was difficult to pick up the book and force myself to read it, but with the due date looming for Monday, decided to pick up the book and continue reading where I'd left off (I was stuck on the same chapter for over 3 weeks now). Boy, was I blown away!!! Basically, the book is a collection of diary entries by a renown scholar, professor, teacher and theologian by the name of Henry Nouwen. I'm sure you've heard of him at some point in your lives ;) He spent seven months in a monastery and wrote down his contemplative thoughts into his journal (which is now a book... Genesee Diary). I thought I was a freak... but after reading Nouwen's thoughts...it's good to know that I'm not alone.

Love his honesty in writing his innermost thoughts and sharing this with the world (especially with God's people... thinking they're alone in this battle). What an awesome encouragement this book has been to me today!

Makes for writing this paper a bit more bearable...