Reader's Poem: Living With Contradiction

Living With Contradiction by Esther de Waal

It is curiously liberating to realize that tensions become life-giving.

Christ walked in constant awareness of the world’s pain and beauty.

I must accept myself in contradictions and contradictions in me.

In Christ all things are held together.

Recognize Christ’s love. Let yourself receive that love.

Benedictine life consists in doing ordinary things carefully and lovingly.

True life means living for others and avoiding being drained,

Living vigorously and aware of one’s dependence on God.

Contemplation is the spring, action the stream flowing to others.

The promise is not escape but grace to face difficulty.

I can now hold on to both/and.

In Christ all things will be brought together.

Esther de Waal. Living with Contradiction. Seattle: Morehouse Publishing, 1998.

Reader’s poem by Samuel Rahberg.

After I finish a good read and before I tuck it away on the shelf, I like to spend some time summarizing what was most important to me. I use the author’s own words, varied only slightly, and follow the themes that speak most strongly to me at this time. The example below remains a summary and serves only as my own interpretation, so I take responsibility for any deviation from the author’s original intent. Even so, may it be a helpful reflection for others and an encouragement to read a fine book in its entirety.