Prodigal Kiwi(s) Blog

Brené Brown Strong Back, Soft Front, Wild Heart

On Being recently featured (aired 8. February 2018), for the third-time, Houston-resident sociologist / author Brené Brown:

"When we're our best selves with each other, I don't think that's what's possible between people; I believe that's what's true between people." A wise thinker and writer, and a sought out teacher by leaders in many fields, Brené Brown is turning her attention ever more to how we walked into the crisis of our life together and how we can move beyond it. Our belonging to one another across every social divide, she says, can never be lost. But it can be forgotten.”

You’ll find the deeply encouraging and insightful conversation here – either as an edited or unedited version. Her most recent publication is Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone – Published September 12, 2017.

I first featured her on this blog in August 2012. The focus of the post was this audio interview (the link still seems to work), and her two TED talks The Power of Vulnerability (Dec. 2010) and Listening to Shame (March 2012). If you haven’t heard of her, or aren’t a reader, start with the TED talks, then have a listen to her three On Being conversations (the latest featured in this post, and the earlier ones can be found here and here). Otherwise, I highly recommend her books.

St. Paul’s Cathedral London: Audio-Visual Resources for the Journey

I’ve been listening to talks by a wide range of theologians and authors. These have included Rowan Williams, Sarah Coakley, Margaret Silf (from 2014), Pádraig Ó Tuama, Barbara Brown Taylor, Dave Tomlinson, Mark Barrett OSB (2013), Ian Mobsby, Esther de Waal (2013, The Way of St. Benedict), Brian McLaren (2012) and Stanley Hauerwas.

You can watch the video’s here, or do what I’ve been doing, listen to the Apple Podcasts – you’ll find a link on the webpage (above), or search via your podcast icon on your iPhone or other smart phone.

My favourite talks were those by Dave Tomlinson, Margaret Silf (whom I hadn’t heard talk before, and who, incidentally, also has a new book out Hidden Wings: Emerging from Troubled Times with New Hope and Deeper Wisdom - 2017), Pádraig Ó Tuama (always very good), and Mark Barrett OSB talking about his wonderful little book Crossing: Reclaiming the Landscape of Your Life (2008). Again, I hadn’t ever heard Mark Barrett before.

The icon accompanying this post is special to me, and was written by Regan O’Callaghan. The picture of the icon is from here, and you can find out more about it.

Praising the Useless Life: A Cistercian Perspective

New out in April this year is In Praise of the Useless Life by Brother Paul Quenon OCSO.

“Monastic life and its counter-cultural wisdom come alive in the stories and lessons of Br. Paul Quenon, O.C.S.O., during his more than five decades as a Trappist at the Abbey of Gethsemani. He served as a novice under Thomas Merton and he also welcomed some of the monastery's more well-known visitors, including Sr. Helen Prejean and Seamus Heaney, to Merton's hermitage. In Praise of the Useless Life includes Quenon's quiet reflections on what it means to live each day with careful attentiveness…”

Br. Paul Quenon, O.C.S.O., entered the Trappists in 1958 at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where Thomas Merton was his novice master. Quenon is a photographer and the author of several books of poetry, including Unquiet Vigil--named a "Best Spiritual Book of the Year" by Spirituality & Practice and "Best Poetry Volume of the Year" by Hearts and Minds Books. Quenon coauthored Carved in Stone and also contributed spiritual reflections to other books.

Recommendation:

"Paul Quenon may describe the monastic life as 'useless, ' a life of play, and that is often how its critics describe it. But he's written a book that strikes me as valuable in a culture so terribly marred by narcissism. The key to monastic life, as his novice master Thomas Merton advised him, is 'to live the life here at the monastery, stop looking at myself, and forget myself.' In an anxious age, we need to be reassured that 'the best thing is to take in one breath at a time . . . Every breath comes from God, and the air supply is unlimited.' As we wrestle with faith in a world that ignores or denounces it, we need to be reminded that 'Prayer is a breathing that purifies the air, like leaves on the tree.' Monks, as people of prayer, may be useless, but this book is evidence that they are also necessary and even indispensable." --Kathleen Norris, Author of The Cloister Walk.

You can pre-order it here. You’ll find a 2011 short video of Brother Paul here .

“…To Belong, You have to be Missed…” ~ John Swinton

I haven’t read anything by practitioner / theologian John Swinton (you’ll find a written interview with him online here), but I’ve had an awareness of him because he’s consistently been on the edges of conversation and reading I’ve done for many years now. It was therefore a rich, and in same ways transformative experience to actually sit down and listen to him in a recent conversation made available by Nomad Podcast. His was a rich, insightful, and deeply thoughtful perspective on disability (including a critique of the term), dementia, time, and what it means to be human.

I will be listening to it again, and highly recommend it. You’ll find the downloadable podcast here (titled: Becoming Friends of Time), or via your podcast app on your phone. You’ll find his book on time, referenced in the conversation, here. If you enjoyed this conversation, you’ll equally enjoy Homebrewed Christianity’s 2017 conversation with him from the other side of the Atlantic, here.

Leonard Cohen: A Last Interview

I’ve listened many many times to Leonard Cohen’s final album You Want It Darker. It’s a stunning album, and I’m listening to it again as I type this post.

Unsurprisingly them, as a big fan, it’ll come as no surprise to learn that I really enjoyed listening to The New Yorker Radio Hour’s Dave Remnick’s sit-down interview with Leonard Cohen a couple of months before he died on November 7th, 2016.

You’ll also find the relevant New Yorker Radio Hour online page here.

Sister Joan Chittister: Lighting a Fire with Faith

Today, an 8^th December 2017 interview with Sister Joan Chittister. It aired on Sounds True:

“Sister Joan Chittister is a member of Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania; the bestselling author of more than 50 books and hundreds of articles; and one of the most influential contemporary leaders and activists for human rights, women's issues, and church renewal. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Sister Joan about the endless interplay between doubt and faith. They discuss the ways in which God sees all of creation, and what this perspective then asks of us. Tami and Sister Joan talk about the necessity of embracing humility, as well as what it means to know the right questions to ask on one's spiritual journey. Finally, Sister Joan comments on the maturation of faith as one grows older and the "last great adventure" offered by death. (66 minutes)”

You’ll find the podcast and video of the conference here.

Thomas Keating: World without End

Another new title from Thomas Keating; this one was published 5^th September 2017, and is titled: World Without End (Amazon have a "look inside" option) It is similar to other recent Keating publications; this time a collection of conversations with “…filmmaker and writer Lucette Verboven, Fr. Thomas Keating looks back on his long life and spiritual development.  Father Keating now turns his attention to the themes of awakening, the nature of true happiness and the character and purpose of death.  This book also contains an interview with Abbot Joseph Boyle of St. Benedict's Monastery where Fr. Keating resides.”

You will find video (YouTube) of Verboven’s 2015 interviews of Timothy Radcliffe OP, and Tom Wright, here and here respectively.

Distraction and the Hacking of Our Minds and Bodies

Last week I listened to a fascinating interview with San Francisco based Dr Robert Lustig. Lustig is the author of the September 2017 publication The Hacking of the American Mind: The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of our Bodies and Brains.

“…We are being robbed of happiness by companies working very hard to keep us addicted to things that provide temporary pleasure, says Dr Robert Lustig…”

It’s well worth a listen, as is media featuring Tristan Harris. Lustig and Mulligan reference him during their conversation, and it was well worth my effort to follow up this reference. Harris has important and needful things to say. You’ll find the 60 Minutes story on YouTube here (in 3-parts), and the short PBS feature (similarly on YouTube) here. I followed these up with Harris’ 2014 TED Talk titled, How Better Tech Could Protect Us From Distraction. From there you can explore all the other media, if you feel so inclined.

Anne Lamott – The Importance of Radical Self-Care

Today a recent conversation featuring Anne Lamott. She is interviewed by Tami Simon for Sounds True, Insights at the Edge. It aired 26 September 2017.

“Anne Lamott is the celebrated author of many books of fiction, essays, and memoirs. Her works include Bird by Bird, Hallelujah Anyway, and Crooked Little Heart. In this special edition of Insights at the Edge originally recorded for The Self-Acceptance Summit, Tami Simon speaks with Anne about acts of "radical self-care" and how they are essential for anyone's well-being. Anne talks about self-acceptance as an innately feminist concept, especially around issues of body image and self-esteem. Finally, Anne and Tami discuss how it is necessary to fully accept oneself before being able to show up for others, and why modern society often argues the opposite. (54 minutes)”

You’ll find the podcast here.

Peter Lineham: god in Godzone

“…Respected religious historian Peter Lineham has put together a book exploring how religion has shaped New Zealand. Called Sunday Best: How the church shaped New Zealand and New Zealand shaped the church, it sets out to see also how New Zealand also shaped the churches throughout time. He talks about the influence religion continues to have on our communities and wider society.”

You’ll find the 27 min conversation here. It aired on RNZ Sunday Morning last Sunday.