The message is really very simple: chaos is not bad news… On the contrary, chaos is a sacred reality, the very thing that is needed for a new creation to begin. Chaos is a gift overflowing with potential.
Regular readers will know how much I admire Margaret Silf. Her Inner Compass is the best book on Ignatian Spirituality I have ever read and I devour her every word.
Her new book, The Other Side of Chaos has as its subtitle: Breaking Through When Life Is Breaking Down. Isn’t that what millions of us are trying to achieve? I know that this book spoke powerfully to me about my situation right now.
Margaret is the real deal. She writes from experiencing her own chaos and pain and she is as sane and sensible a guide through the messiness of life as can be found. What a treasure she is.
I hope and I pray that The Other Side of Chaos can break through the cacophonous clamor of contemporary culture (don’t you just love alliteration?) and become a runaway bestseller. Not (just) because it would be great for Loyola Press, but because people need to read this book and absorb its wisdom.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
It is a timely book, as our world seems to be in a tizzy over all that is going on. I look forward to reading it.
The message that its title conveys reminds me of a book I read right after 9/11 by Pema Chödron: The Places that scare you, A guide to Fearlessness in Difficult times.
I am curious to find out how these two holy women’s look at the world … How similar they are, where they differ.
Thank you for the heads up.
Claire,
And thank you for the reference to Pema Chodron. (How did you get the accent above the “o” in her last name?)
Paul
I was just planning to buy my “Grace Filled Days for 2012 and think I will add this. My small exposure to Margaret in the 2011 edition has left me curious and anxious to read more. With a first name like Margaret, how could she go wrong????
m.
Marg,
Margaret Silf is an authentic voice who has good things to share with us. I don’t think you can go wrong with her.
Paul
placed my order for both yesterday!
m.
I ordered this book and just received it last week. It is an amazing book. Each chapter has thoughts/questions for reflection. I’m only half-way through, bu wholeheartedly recommend it!
Kim,
Thanks for recommending the book. Your check is in the mail. Oops! I wasn’t meant to say that out loud, was i?!
Paul
Another Margaret Silf fan, huh? Me too! One of my all time favorite writers, and I join you in your love for Inner Compass also. On my list of top books of all times!
Just picked up the Other Side of Chaos at the Ignatian Spirituality Conference. Looking forward to reading another great Silf book!
Chaos – now there is a familiar foe! I think with a title like this I will have to be purchasing a copy. Is it available on kindle by any chance? My life is chaotic enough with out adding to it with another book to clutter my world
Thank you so much for this recommendation!
Chaos as sacred reality…..
this is an invitation to look at chaos in a different light.
Thank you for recommending this book.
Thank you for introducing the book. The subtitle calls to me and I just hope we have it here.
I’m in the middle of “Inner Compass” at the moment and I’m looking forward to savouring “The Other Side of Chaos” as well. I believe that “Inner Compass” needs to be read more than once as there is so much to be learned on many different levels.
Chaos is neither purposeless nor unplanned. It only seems so if you’re standing still in the midst of it.
Emma,
Your insight about chaos spoke to me. What a profound concept. I need to stop standing in the midst of it without perspective. Thank You!
INNER COMPASS should be on everyone’s MUST READ list. We did a book group on it over 8 weeks at a retreat center here and it was Spirit blessed.