Some Awe
Some Awe by debgrant
I just read two books back to back.
How to Do Nothing: RESISTING THE ATTENTION ECONOMY By Jenny Odell
Why did I pick this? I have been thinking about distractions and multi-tasking and constantly being asked what I am doing. Sometimes I want to answer: nothing. But I chicken out and try to justify my existence with a list of my current projects. I thought the book would make me…less chicken.
It is a good book. Good research, well-written. It came to good common sense conclusions. HOWEVER, it is the format with which lost patience. The title is designed to be clickbait. (How to…)Some identify a demon we have suspected is working against us(Example: Attention Economy).
My side rant about formula publishing: Internet articles love the formula of a numbered list. Example: 13 ways to…fill in the blank with a problem you want to solve. In my experience, church internet influencers and book writers are very good at this formula of writing: clickbait, identifying the problems, but weak at solutions, good at creating more greedy clickbait by putting a link to buy their program/book at the end of the list.
Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner
Why did I pick this?
It had me from Hello. It could have stopped at the main title: Awe. The subtitle lured me in too. I love when science is applied to different aspects of life - even the process of applying good scientific methods to gather data on such a squishy subject is amazing. “Everyday Wonder” is my best truthful answer to how I spend my time. “How it can Transform Your Life” - a sad concession to evil publishing formula gods.
This is a wonderful book. It informed me. Delighted me. Confirmed my experience. Widened my understanding of the experience of awe for others. Broadened my options for opportunities for awe. Affirmed that this is a good way for me to live right now and I am grateful that I can.
I live in a place where Great Blue Herons stop. Sometimes they preen or fish. But mostly they just stop. When their take-off pattern goes over my back deck, I can see the absolute mechanical wonder that such a living thing can fly dragging those long legs behind. I feel and hear the air moved by their wings. I stop and do absolutely nothing in the moment but draw a breath, hold it, and feast on the wonder of it.
May you experience awe today. I would love to hear what that looks like for you.
Peace,
Deb
Love this! Every time I step out into nature and really pay attention, I’m totally awed by what I see and hear. The way the sunlight shines through the tiny hairs on a plant leaf, or glints off the feathers of a bird, or filters through the clouds in the sky, I’m amazed at the world we live in. In the past few years I’ve learned to be more mindful of the world around me and my awe has grown!
Unfortunately the book I am currently reading is Susan Jacoby’s book “The Age of American Unreason”. The dumbing down of America primarily by Christian fundamentalists. You might say I am Awe-struck, Dumb-founded, and angry at what Americans who claim allegiance to God have wrecked on the inhabitants of this land. Genocide of Native Americans and subsequent boarding schools, the forced labor and abuse of slaves, Jim Crow incarceration laws, bullying and abuse of women, LGBTQ, anti-semitism, and disparate immigrantion to name a few. Redlining, unfair housing, healthcare, segregation and disparity in education all while their hand is on the Bible praising God for their good fortune while praying they might hold the infidels down.
By God they won’t want this book read in their schools.
I run a Food and Clothing Shelf at the church I attend. I am humbled as I see first hand the pains and needs of the people as a few of us do our best to help them. The frustrating thing is that this work (important as it is) is simply put: Charity. Though the corporate church is trying to advocate for policies that will change the causes and reasons for charity being needed, the church body does not, all while listening to theological sermons and feeling quite comfortable and justified in their faith?
Peace!
Until all are fed. . . and clothed,
Bob Becker