Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope by Joan Chittister, W B Eerdmans 2005
In Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope, Sr Joan Chittister, OSB takes the Bible story of Jacob wrestling with the angel in Genesis chapter 32 and discusses the spiritual struggles of change, isolation, darkness, fear, powerlessness, vulnerability, exhaustion and scarring, coupled respectively alongside the gifts of conversion, independence, faith, courage, surrender, self-acceptance, endurance and purity of heart.
In the chapter about vulnerability, Chittister comments on the terrorist attacks of September 11 and the way they exposed the vulnerability of America (and indeed, the people of Australia felt included in these attacks as a Western nation). This was the first time I had heard someone connect this crucial global and national issue to the nation’s psyche or spirit. I was impressed by the author’s way of expressing the individual and personal implications of the struggle of vulnerability in day-to-day living.
I was similarly struck by Chittister’s comment that we often find it uncomfortable to deal with those who are handicapped or mentally ill, perhaps because they remind us of how fragile, how limited we all really are in one way or another. It is not difficult to determine how comfortable people are with their own limitations; it can be measured by the way they treat the limitations of others.
Noticing this had implications for my life: how much empathy, compassion and patience do I have for myself and therefore how much do I show towards others? How can I be a spiritual guide or companion, if I have never paused to notice and reflect on my own struggles, limitations, brokenness or weakness?
I found a great balance in the book. Chittister does not mince words when describing the depth of angst experienced in those eight types of struggle but she did couple them with the light and hope of the eight gifts.
Some quotes from this book were used recently at Out of Eremos discussion group meetings in Sydney. For more information about Out of Eremos, see the Groups page on the Eremos website.