Customer Reviews

A Good Life: Benedict's Guide to Everyday Joy

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The subject of Spiritual Disciplines is gaining in popularity and some books on the subject are quite overwhelming, especially for those of us who work 40 hours a week and have a family. "A Good Life" gleans insights from the Rule of St. Benedict to transpose into our 21st century lives. He divides our lives into four areas, which is slightly hard to do but interesting nevertheless, prayer, rest, community, and work, and discusses ways to pursue relationship with God in each of those areas. This is a great starting point for exploring how to be faithful in each of those areas of our lives.

Unpretentious, straight forward, and inspirational, this little volume (85 pages) makes an excellent devotional booklet for the Benedictine oblate. It has seven short sections. Taken one each day, this book will take a week to read. I usually read a chapter in place of compline and give myself something to think about as I go to sleep. Non-Benedictines might want use this book as a one-week retreat to experience a flavor of benedictine spirituality.

Robert Benson's measured prose is well-suited to his topic of following St. Benedict's advocacy for an ordered life. Using personal experience and just enough challenge to the reader, Benson draws us in to believe that a good life is possible and worth pursuing. Along the way, he explains how this can take place.

A takeaway for me comes out of Benson's chapter on Work, where he speaks of Benedict's recognition of three roles in community: abbot, artist and cellarer. Abbots lead, out of humility and from experience. Artists contribute the skills of hand and mind to the immediate community's well-being, often by being active in the outlying neighborhood. Cellarers are busy behind the scenes, doing what's necesary so that all else runs smoothly. But once he identifies these 'roles', Benson points out that a simple 'division of labor' does not alway apply. That is, it's not like in each community (a family, a church, an intentionally gathered group of friends) there are individuals assuming each position for the duration, but rather that all members are likely to fill each role on different occasions.

A friend loaned me this book and I've been glad for the gift. Highly recommended.