Author: Jean P. Kelly, Faith Writer

Author, Less Helping Them, More Healing You Podcaster, Read. Pray. Write. Columnist, U.S. Catholic Otterbein University, Department of Communication professor.

The Transformative Power of Spiritual Reading for Healing and Self-Reflection

Jean P. Kelly, Faith Writer1 Comment

Excerpt from Less Helping Them, More Healing You: The Transcendent Gifts of an Ancient Spiritual Practice, by Jean P. Kelly

AT ONE TIME, I pictured myself in a nursing home of the future where family and friends would complain about my pockets full of notes—shreds of paper with handwritten quotes—stashed there and everywhere in case I forgot good advice. I also imagined an avalanche of books, anthologies, and memoirs bristling with post-its, on a bedside stand, never shelved just in case I needed to find, in doubt-filled moments, an inspirational passage, paragraph, or prayer.

Words of others—especially in books—have always offered solace to me: comfort, companionship, escape, insight, and challenge. So when some ten years ago I learned that reading can be prayer, I was hooked. Ever since discovering the ancient spiritual discipline Lectio Divina, “Spiritual Reading,” I’ve been on an intentional path back to myself, one page at a time.

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When You’ve Done Enough: How to Let Go with Love

We should approach spiritual growth defenseless.

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We should approach spiritual growth defenseless, says Cistercian monk Michael Casey in his book Strangers to the City, because the gift of salvation very often runs counter to our expectations. “We open ourselves. … We approach our reading as a disciple comes to a master: receptive, docile, willing to be changed.”

I was changed by the book Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality, written by Jesuit priest Anthony DeMello from India , especially the chapter titled “Detachment,” a concept new to me. “Someone brainwashed me into thinking I need his or her love,” DeMello explained, “but I really don’t. I don’t need anybody’s love. ….”

Continue reading “When You’ve Done Enough: How to Let Go with Love” →

Pace, Space & Grace Found Here

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Stories matter: mine, yours, theirs.

I’ll be sharing my story along with those of others, found wisdom about authoring an authentic life.

Interested in more? Be sure to subscribe to my monthly GraceLine newsletter for more inspiration, straight to your Inbox. As a gift for signing up, you’ll receive a free e-book about incorporating Spiritual Reading into your everyday life. (Hint: it’s easy!)

Thanks for walking alongside me on the intentional path toward deeper spirituality and more loving humanity.

Jean