Book summary
Catching up with Daylight by Gail Kittleson makes a pleasant companion for this season of reflection. Snuggle near the fire
with this volume, or give a friend a gift to . . .
celebrate the power of
friendship
explore historical and
contemporary passages from darkness to light
discover an ancient
Benedictine meditation practice
re-experience the beauty of
the present moment
rethink your favorite gospel stories
Many of us long for
rest, as the author did while renovating an old house after her husband’s first
deployment to Iraq. Yet a different hunger undergirded that desire: a hunger
for wholeness.
No fast track exists
to a closer walk with God, but the ancient Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina enhances and extends our
times with our Creator. Allowing the Spirit to emphasize one word and
ruminating on that word throughout the day empowers us to remain present for every moment, attentive to
embrace all that God has for us.
Meet the author, Gail Kittleson
My friend Carol recently discovered she faced a double mastectomy. A day or so
later, she did some journaling to vent about an unrelated issue that had niggled
at her for many years. When she read her rant to her husband, she said, "Boy, it
feels good to get that off my chest."
He looked at
her and responded, "Be careful what you say."
Our memoir-writing class
cracked up when Carol shared this story. She and her husband, known for their
mutual respect and a lifetime overflowing with humorous anecdotes, have
encouraged me so many times.
It's not that
they suffer less than others, or that their life has been the proverbial bowl of
cherries. But Carol's ever-present sense of humor finds something positive in
every situation. How many people do you know who could make a self-effacing joke
about a nasty pending surgery?
All this to say
that humor often slides in to cheer us, even when nothing else can. I don't know
about everyone else, but I sometimes have to work at seeing the funny side of
things. This is true in my writing, too.
What fun, after
years of honing fiction writing skills, to have created a couple of characters
with a natural humorous side. This manuscript has yet to receive "The CALL," but
even the act of creating a middle-aged widower who falls for his neighbor lady,
a recent widow, has given me satisfaction.
Al, an all-around great
guy with the ability to laugh at himself, also has enough nervousness left from
his WWI service to last a lifetime. The juxtaposition of these two
characteristics intrigues me—of course, I hope Al will some day intrigue
readers, too.
I'd like to develop more
humor about publishing in general—it's such a tense arena these days. A bit of
humor helps—being fraught with worry certainly does no good.
My
recent nonfiction release, Catching Up With Daylight, focuses on several
Gospel stories of divine reassurance from unlikely sources, highlighting the
importance of living in the present moment. The ability to laugh at a moment’s
notice is part and parcel of that goal. I wonder if, later in life, the
disciples were able to chuckle a little, looking back at their zany experiences
with Jesus?
When has fresh humor, possibly from an unexpected source, given you a boost?
Gail Kittleson
DARE TO BLOOM!
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