tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post4765204817218276447..comments2023-11-03T05:46:44.728-04:00Comments on RevGalBlogPals: RevGalBookPals: Still by Lauren WinnerStephanie Anthony/She Revhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10089531643725874239noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-75870029602679101532012-04-17T16:52:51.979-04:002012-04-17T16:52:51.979-04:00I hear what you are saying, but I guess I was less...I hear what you are saying, but I guess I was less critical because it happened to "fit" with my being in the middle/muddle. Perhaps it was a "well D'oh" thing, but at the time (when I had plenty of knowledge, self-awareness and training) I needed to read it.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12169805543154662247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-70406743440242093402012-04-17T10:45:25.545-04:002012-04-17T10:45:25.545-04:00interesting discussion, Gals -- I'm not ready ...interesting discussion, Gals -- I'm not ready to write a full review but some preliminary mumbles here -- I resonate with the "well d'oh" comment, like Spiritual Dryness and/or Desolation are NEWS???? in ANY faith tradition? (Ignatius of L. and Teresa of A. look at each other, roll eyes...)<br />That said, what Lauren says she says so very well that it is a pleasure to read even about what is unpleasant to experience. And that's a huge, huge gift to us all, I think.Crimson Ramblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13020190454645032359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-19570199556750078522012-04-17T10:34:19.994-04:002012-04-17T10:34:19.994-04:00I was grateful to get the book. Much of it resona...I was grateful to get the book. Much of it resonated for me, and frankly, it made me glad I haven't published most of my existential angsting (except moderately on my blog, but I'm not particularly open there about such things). <br /><br />Looking back, I can see that over the last 20+ years I would get to a place and say, "THIS IS IT!" And then it wouldn't be. <br /><br />Right now I am a place where I am wondering what the heck I thought I was doing and where I might be going. (Spiritually.) It doesn't surprise me any more. It doesn't upset me either, and I'm quite confident that God (as I am one day going to understand God) is waiting for me and smiling. <br /><br />Sigh.Mary Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02970052534402740820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-57953120336989903822012-04-17T07:11:55.370-04:002012-04-17T07:11:55.370-04:00I found the book incredibly helpful. Although I a...I found the book incredibly helpful. Although I am getting past the "middle" of life in some ways, I thought that Winner's book was a powerful reminder of where many of the people in the pews are (or will be headed at some point, if they stick around church long enough). <br />Particularly good, I thought, was her discussion of how she struggled to give anxiety up for Lent. I passed on some of what she said in a sermon and numerous people have, on numerous occasions, told me how helpful it was. <br />I haven't read Mudhouse Sabbath. But I look forward to doing so!pastor cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06913735855442001280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-57794945458506424452012-04-16T22:55:26.310-04:002012-04-16T22:55:26.310-04:00Thanks, Robin, for your kind words!
I can relate...Thanks, Robin, for your kind words! <br /><br />I can relate to that Christian-as-cheerleader feeling; adults (myself included) aren't always willing to show the gritty, uncertain, angry stuff, and the younger folks (or at least I-when-even-younger-than-now) assume there's no space for wrestling -- and aren't always prepared for that wrestling when it comes. No one told me that having doubts didn't mean I was a bad Christian (thank God for Madeleine L'Engle!). <br /><br />All the best with your youth group!Alissahttp://episcotheque.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-51611634085941154812012-04-16T22:34:00.238-04:002012-04-16T22:34:00.238-04:00I think one of the frustrating things of my own mi...I think one of the frustrating things of my own ministry experience is when someone writes a book (like this) about how faith is hard (or work), or that we wrestle with God, or sometimes God feels far away and we're all supposed to be awed at the revelation. By now, I've read enough of these to look with sympathy upon the author. It's hard for me to realize that there are still people who are surprised that we can doubt/question and still wake up in the morning, not struck down in our sleep.Pastor Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01483149432826000955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-10692534371780991652012-04-16T22:06:42.978-04:002012-04-16T22:06:42.978-04:00I liked this book -- I pre-ordered it for my kindl...I liked this book -- I pre-ordered it for my kindle app and had already read it when Lauren's offer came out-- and then I received a book anyway, for which I am grateful. <br /><br />But like earthchick, my feelings are also mixed. Am I the only one who thought at points, "Well d'oh" at some points ? I guess I was surprised by her surprise at going through what she did (w/regards to a loss of faith) especially given all the major life events she was dealing with. Perhaps that reaction on my part comes from my own life experiences and is unfair. At any rate, I also agree with whoever said that perhaps writing this was a bit premature, and/or it seems unfinished. <br /><br />That said, some of her reflections were touching, and at some point I want to reread the whole thing. I think it could be a good book group book.<br /><br />"Mudhouse Sabbath" is still my favorite Winner book, though.Rev Dr Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14686528826414330355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-72567371273052021392012-04-16T20:29:31.801-04:002012-04-16T20:29:31.801-04:00I reviewed Still for the Baptist Women in Ministry...I reviewed Still for the Baptist Women in Ministry site. You can find it here: http://www.bwim.info/jennifer-harris-dault/still-notes-on-a-mid-faith-crisis-by-lauren-winner-a-week-of-reviews-2/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-26594704772881598032012-04-16T19:32:12.444-04:002012-04-16T19:32:12.444-04:00:) Thanks, Julia! I knew there were no strings att...:) Thanks, Julia! I knew there were no strings attached, I just felt kind of yucky and ungracious posting some of my negative thoughts so publicly here, especially when I wasn't sure they would add much to the conversation. <br /><br />I did find some nice nuggets in there, especially where she drew on Emily Dickinson, and there were definitely parts I connected with, but I didn't feel like the book really took me anywhere. Which, if it were meant to just be memoir, I guess it wouldn't need to do. But I know it was meant to be more than that, and it just pushed too many of my buttons to be that for me.<br /><br />Thank you for hosting this conversation and for your assurance of freedom to express what we think! I didn't mean to imply my views wouldn't be accepted, just that I felt like I was being Cranky McJudgerson by putting them out there in so public a forum, in response to something that was given so generously.earthchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447310443886956100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-37468841137964512982012-04-16T18:56:28.504-04:002012-04-16T18:56:28.504-04:00There were no strings attached in receiving the bo...There were no strings attached in receiving the book and each of us is completely free in our experience of it. There are others here (even above) who did not whole-heartedly love the book. Even if it turns out that you threw it against the wall, that's okay too.Pastor Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01483149432826000955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-45728117969629137572012-04-16T18:54:45.223-04:002012-04-16T18:54:45.223-04:00Those McJudgy statements are exactly why I wasn...Those McJudgy statements are exactly why I wasn't too crazy about her previous books, which were so recommended to me (because all faithful women of a certain age are exactly the same?). In this book, I would have appreciated better articulation of how she *might* have been wrong about what she believed to be important. I got the sense of the wrestling, which seemed to hint at these thoughts, but was not quite ready to say "mea culpa".Pastor Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01483149432826000955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-86766023626743486692012-04-16T18:52:52.598-04:002012-04-16T18:52:52.598-04:00I agree with you, revknits! I feel like two memoir...I agree with you, revknits! I feel like two memoirs before the mid-30s is kind of a lot, and too much in the middle of things to write with real reflection on things. (I know she doesn't want this book to be considered a memoir, but I still believe it to be one).earthchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447310443886956100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-14417769196511410472012-04-16T18:37:07.999-04:002012-04-16T18:37:07.999-04:00It was so lovely to receive the book, and there we...It was so lovely to receive the book, and there were definitely portions of it I enjoyed, and I certainly resonate with the idea of being in the middle and of feeling disconnected from God. But in the end, my review of the book was far more mixed than how it sounds like most of you felt about it, and mine sounds rather negative/critical in contrast so I'm hesitant to link to it for fear of looking ungrateful for the gift of it (though any of my goodreads friends are free to find it over there).earthchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447310443886956100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-28705674860062310692012-04-16T18:23:21.796-04:002012-04-16T18:23:21.796-04:00While I also felt in ended abruptly, there were so...While I also felt in ended abruptly, there were some journey-like qualities to it which spoke to my muddling through the middle of my last unit of CPE. I blogged about it <a href="http://wp.me/pXsoG-1fa" rel="nofollow">here</a>...<br /><br />There were places where I underlined or starred a comment and passed them along to a friend. And I do have a co-worker in the recovery phase of divorce, so I will offer it to her. She has been searching for her own place of spiritual STILLness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-77861174668049557212012-04-16T16:28:08.860-04:002012-04-16T16:28:08.860-04:00I liked the book, especially the beginning part, a...I liked the book, especially the beginning part, and her writing is spare and honest. I share a journey through divorce that has some large similarities with Winner, and her account brought me back into that chapter of my life. But, and it's a big but for me -- it feels terribly unfinished. <br /><br />Yes, I know the book is about "the middle" - but literally, I thought that somehow I had gotten a defective book that missed some pages, because that last chapter was like ending in the middle of a....<br /><br />Yeah, like that.<br /><br />Maybe this book should have waited a while longer to get finished. This is an author who has made a lot of declarative judgments early in her faith life about others who didn't believe/act the way she thought they should have. Who told other people to get married just for sex because sex without marriage was worse.<br /><br />I was hoping for more reflection and articulation of that part of her journey now. How maybe she wasn't really ready in her faith life in those early years to make all those mcjudgy comments. And probably it is too soon/too raw to go there, but that's the point - maybe this all takes longer to find the next reflection point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-59867963522223277082012-04-16T16:01:01.388-04:002012-04-16T16:01:01.388-04:00My inner-purple was not quite so tactful as inner-...My inner-purple was not quite so tactful as inner-Julia is. :)<br /><br />I shared some of my God-wrestling times...how hard it is...somehow we have held on to our 3rd grade Sunday School stories (which are fine for 3rd grade, maybe) and not allowed them to grow and evolve. <br /><br />My spiritual director, who has studied with Ken Wilbur, keeps reminding me from a developmental status...a person is not going to undertake wrestling/change until they come to the realization that "it" (whatever it is...church, God, atonement theories, etc)is not longer working for them.Elaine (aka...Purple) https://www.blogger.com/profile/09439199680556347830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-61155270098548472162012-04-16T15:50:33.339-04:002012-04-16T15:50:33.339-04:00I would be so tempted to reply, "You might be...I would be so tempted to reply, "You might be, but the rest of us hope God's still working on you." That's my inner-Julia talking... I try not to let her out much. Did "wrestling" sermons happen? Was there additional response?Pastor Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01483149432826000955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-18791540256268798302012-04-16T15:49:02.008-04:002012-04-16T15:49:02.008-04:00It's very interesting how many of us said that...It's very interesting how many of us said that the books resonated with something in us and that we appreciated it, yet it is not necessarily something we would recommend as a "must read". Who do you think would benefit from reading this book and how would you go about recommending it to them?Pastor Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01483149432826000955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-26645749730067669342012-04-16T14:49:45.027-04:002012-04-16T14:49:45.027-04:00About six months ago we were gathered around a tab...About six months ago we were gathered around a table at the church discussing the texts I would be preaching on Sunday. I mentioned "wrestling with God"...that concept was totally new. One person actually said...I'm just fine with where I am at. <br /><br />Enjoying the conversation and reviews.Elaine (aka...Purple) https://www.blogger.com/profile/09439199680556347830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-54133370719534964052012-04-16T14:21:51.833-04:002012-04-16T14:21:51.833-04:00My reflections after reading it are hereMy reflections after reading it are <a href="http://followingfrodo.blogspot.ca/2012/04/book-4-of-2012-still.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>RevGordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02097575486388725733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-18006173838037006592012-04-16T12:59:01.008-04:002012-04-16T12:59:01.008-04:00Here's a link to my review: http://michellevan...Here's a link to my review: http://michellevanloon.com/2012/04/05/review-sort-of-still/Michelle Van Loonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17069884177270291492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-22203770791765584582012-04-16T12:42:02.662-04:002012-04-16T12:42:02.662-04:00True Confession: I have not finished Still yet. T...True Confession: I have not finished Still yet. There are lots of reasons for this, but a complicating reason is that this book is assigned reading for me.<br /><br />I'm one of a dozen women clergy who will be meeting with Winner this June at the Collegeville Institute to workshop each others' writing, with her as our workshop leader. I began the book before I got the invitation to Collegeville, and I then became strangely "shy" for some reason about finishing it. <br /><br />I will finish it, for sure. We will be discussing it with the author. Already I have had many "Oh, my God, it's not just me who feels that way" moments.<br /><br />But reading a writer's vulnerable moments, knowing that in a couple of months she is going to be reading *my* vulnerable moments as well, is a new experience for me.Juleshttp://winsomelearnsome.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-47906597652336290582012-04-16T12:34:15.496-04:002012-04-16T12:34:15.496-04:00My official review is here but also includes a lin...My official review is <a href="http://sandyherren.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-review-still-by-lauren-f-winner.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> but also includes a link to my first thoughts about it from last month, too. This book has been quite a journey for me, and I'm looking forward to seeing where else it goes!Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11628802360965362377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-29920742423845817892012-04-16T11:48:42.310-04:002012-04-16T11:48:42.310-04:00I wrote a bit about Lauren Winner's Still, whi...I wrote a bit about Lauren Winner's Still, which I found to be a wonderful read and which resonated with me. You can read my short thoughts that echo the slices and pieces of her mid-faith crisis at signs-along-the-way.stinuksukhttp://www.signs-along-the-way.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14710344.post-29700189928490343232012-04-16T10:27:58.737-04:002012-04-16T10:27:58.737-04:00Still read like a closeup, real life experience; t...<i>Still</i> read like a closeup, real life experience; thanks again to Lauren Winner for her generous gifts to us of writing, reflection and an actual copy of the book! I wrote a <a href="http://desertspiritsfire.blogspot.com/2012/04/lauren-winner-still.html" rel="nofollow">blog</a> with my Amazon review linked at the end. I'm enjoying everyone's comments and will check back her for more.river songhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01544925349152380920noreply@blogger.com