Blog Book Club

A couple of times during the last month or so I quoted and/or referenced Robert Benson's book A Good Life: Benedict's Guide to Everyday Joy. I also mentioned that it was the best book I read in 2008. In fact, I am going to begin re-reading it here shortly. Which brings me to the point of this post...

I would like to invite you, dear blog-readers, to join me in reading Benson's book at the beginning of 2009. I have never done a blogging book club, but I think this book is a great candidate with which to make the attempt. A Good Life has six chapters and 85 pages. It sells for around $11 on Amazon. I want to read and "discuss" a chapter per week. I will probably do two or three posts per week on the content of that chapter and invite discussion in the comments. You will have to restrain yourself from reading ahead because Benson's writing is easy to engage and compelling to process.

Here's what Publisher's Weekly has to say about the book:

What is a "good life" in a world of worry and hurry? Perceptive spirituality writer Benson offers readers "a sixth-century guide for life in the twenty-first century" with this short primer based on the Rule of Saint Benedict. Benson once prepared to enter a monastery but soon realized he was not called to be a monk. Now a husband, father, and busy writer and retreat leader, he seeks to live the Rule internally, applying its direction about four major issues—prayer, rest, community and work—to his own life. Each chapter of the book begins with Benedict’s guidance about one of those four topics, followed by Benson’s personal and theological musings on the Rule’s contemporary application. Readers will begin to imagine how they can order their lives around the discipline of fixed-hour prayer, connecting themselves "to the whole community of Christ for all time past and for all time to come." They will also be moved to ponder the value of silence and solitude, seek greater humility in their relationships with others and prevent work from dominating life. Ultimately, says Benson, we live not by the Rule of Saint Benedict but by "the rule of Saint Whatever Our Name Is," applying the abbot’s teachings to our individual situations.

I have been traveling to a Benedictine monastery for seven years and seeking to live my life under some sort of intentional rhythm/rule as a result of what I have learned and observed there. When we think of monasteries the tendency is to think about people whose lives seem so different from our own as to be irrelevant. But if we allow that tendency and assumption to go unchallenged, then we are the poorer for it. The beauty and the genius of Benedict's rule for living is that by observing it we become more profoundly human, I believe, as God intended us to be. In fact, I am on way my to the monastery this morning for three days of prayer, study, planning, and direction.

But for many people bridging the gap between our world and the world of the monastery is not possible. Which is where Robert Benson comes in. He has written a book that invites us to consider our lives in light of four practices that can shape our lives in the way of Jesus, as interpreted through Benedict: prayer, work, community, and rest. It is important to note that at the beginning of The Rule of Benedict, Benedict writes that in setting down this guide for living he sought to create nothing too difficult or burdensome. Perhaps that grace-oriented way of beginning is partly responsible for the fact that Benedict's rule has been shaping human lives and communities for 1500 years. The best thing I can say about Benson's book is that in writing about a way of life based on Benedict's rule, he has preserved that spirit. It is a book full of grace, humor, insight, and blessing.

Just FYI, I met Robert last summer when the two of us spoke together in Golden, Colorado, at the end of July. We had a great time and I feel privileged to get to share him with the rest of you. I hope you'll join me. As it relates to details, we will begin early next week on the Book Blog Club (hereafter BBC - sorry). That gives you this week to pick up the book (click the link above to go to Amazon and buy the book). I'll give some more instructions as the week goes on. I am really looking forward to processing our way through this book in the hopes that our lives and discipleship will be the richer for our time spent together in it. If your are going to join me, leave me a comment - even if you have never done so before and never intend to again. I like to know you are out there. And if you cannot join us reading the book, know that you are likewise invited to read along and join in the discussion as well.

Comments

[Bobby Hopkins]

I've been trying to figure out something spend an Amazon gift card on and I think this is the ticket.I've also been learning more over the last year about Benedict's rules for living as well as trying to find time to visit a monastery soon. I hope your trip is well.

[Jon Crawford]

Ordered. See you there.

[Rick Dykema]

I'm in. Thanks for the recommendation

[David Clark]

My wife and I will be making a retreat to Conception Abbey this January. This will be a good movement in my life to push into Benedictine spirituality this new year. Thanks for doing this Tim.

[Greg Dyer]

I'm planning on it, Tim.

[Chad Jolly]

I'm in Tim. . . . I am just 50 pages into Acedia and Me (thanks for that recommendation as well).

Monastic Mania 2009.

[Adam]

I probably won't read the book (too many things to read) but I'll definitely keep up with the conversation.

[sally]

I ordered it the other day when you wrote your first post about it. I got it in the mail and had finished it within a day. It is an incredible book. In fact, I've already passed it along to a friend. I've also re-examined the rule of life I live by as a result of my reading. The book led me to restructure and add to my rule based off what I've learned from this book.

I'm excited to engage in some conversation here about this wonderful little book.

"Benedict writes that in setting down this guide for living he sought to create nothing too difficult or burdensome." -- I once heard someone describe the guidelines as "unforced rhythms of grace".

[Vanessa Pierson]

Some things I love: the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Clyde, Mo; Kathleen Norris's book, The Cloister Walk; book clubs; monastic practices; using a Plaza gift certificate on something that makes my life better.

I'm in.

Thanks,

[Brian]

I will follow the blog

[Ryan Bell]

Hi Tim,

I'm headed to my usual place, the Benetictine Monastery in Valyermo, CA. I got there twice a year and my next appointment is next week. Last summer I read Joan Chittister's book, Wisdom Distilled from the Daily. This year, I'll that this book you're recommending. Looking forward to the post here.

Peace!

[Todd Hiestand]

I might be late, but I'm in. Looking forward to reading along with you...

[Neal Taylor]

Will see if I can find the book locally and join in. Otherwise will try to follow along whithout when I can.

I am going to a New Monasticism and Ansbaptist conference here in Melbourne Australia later this month so it will be quite relevant.

Shalom