We live in a time of widespread spiritual questing as individuals from all walks of life seek to understand, appreciate, and reverence the mysteries of God and human nature. Reading memoirs about the lives of other people is a beautiful practice of openness and empathy for our own spiritual journeys. We learn from those who are struggling with the challenges of faith, dealing with the exigencies of doubt, and wrestling with their consciences. We identify with the vulnerability and the fragility of those who are waylaid by chronic disease and onerous operations. We cheer them on as they courageously face their demons and find comfort and solidarity within communities that nourish their souls.
Spiritual memoirs are medicine for us, especially in these hard times where many old habits, mindsets, and ways of acting no longer serve us well as we seek to connect with the Source of Life. We've made a selection from our archive of book reviews and excerpts for this collection. We've found a bracing mix of male and female writers from a variety of spiritual paths and religions.
James Boswell, the biographer of Samuel Johnson said of his approach: "In every picture there should be shade as well as light." We agree and urge you to consider this month these benefits of examining the lives of others in spiritual memoirs:
- They help us to see the connections which bind us together with all those on a spiritual journey.
- Their experiences serve as spiritual teachings for us as we open to receive what has been given to us.
- They help us identify the patterns and turning points which have punctuated our own spiritual growth.
- They give us a context in which to see how others have dealt with change, love, loss, success, failure, suffering and death.
- They increase our appreciation of the irrational elements of our behavior and give us edifying glimpses of our shadow sides.
- They provide emotional workouts for us and exercise our feelings so that we can become more compassionate and empathetic human beings.
- They throw open our hearts in moments when we are mysteriously moved by peace, joy, play, gratitude, laughter, or tears.
- They enhance our awareness of the paradoxes and ambiguities of sacred relationships of all types.
- They help us to become more alert to the diversity of our culture and the unity that we share with others.
- They teach us that life is not a problem to be solved but a spiritual adventure to be experienced in the fullest.
- Elizabeth J. Andrew
Memoir
Excerpt - Ken Arnold
Memoir
Excerpt - Karen Armstrong
Memoir
Excerpt - Robert Benson
Memoir
Excerpt - Frederick Buechner
Memoir
Excerpt - James Carroll
Memoir
Excerpt - Ram Dass
Memoir
Excerpt - Gregory Doyle
Memoir
Excerpt - Gretel Ehrlich
Memoir
Excerpt - Nora Gallagher
Memoir
Excerpt - Gangaji
Memoir
Excerpt - Patricia Hampl
Memoir
Excerpt - Asma Gull Hasan
Memoir
Excerpt - Robert A. Johnson
Memoir
Excerpt - Ted Kooser
Memoir
Excerpt - Marilyn Lacey
Memoir
Excerpt - Anne Lamott
Memoir
Excerpt - Karen Maezen Miller
Memoir
Excerpt - Heidi Neumark
Memoir
Excerpt - Wes "Scoop" Nisker
Memoir
Excerpt - Kathleen Norris
Memoir
Excerpt - Mary Rose O'Reilley
Memoir
Excerpt - Eboo Patel
Memoir
Excerpt - Brenda Peterson
Memoir
Excerpt - Scott Russell Sanders
Memoir
Excerpt - Lewis B. Smedes
Memoir
Excerpt - Huston Smith
Memoir
Excerpt - Mary Swander
Memoir
Excerpt - Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
Memoir
Excerpt - Lauren F. Winner
Memoir
Excerpt
