The Time is Now. Finished 12-3-19, 4.5/5, inspirational, 136 pages, pub. 2019

Beloved nun and social activist Joan Chittister, who appeared on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, offers a soul-stirring and inspiring guide that speaks to all who feel disillusioned and dissatisfied with the power-hungry institutions and systems of this world.

Joan Chittister has been a passionate voice for women’s rights for over 50 years. Called “one of the most well-known and trusted contemporary spiritual authors” by Publishers Weekly, this rabble-rousing force of nature for social justice and fervent proponent of personal faith and spiritual fulfillment draws on the wisdom of prophets–both ancient and modern–to help us confront the societal forces that oppress and silence the sacred voices among us.

Pairing scriptural insights with stirring narratives of the truth-tellers that came before us, Sister Joan offers a compelling vision for readers to combat complacency and to propel ourselves toward creating a world of justice, freedom, peace, and empowerment.     from Goodreads

My thoughts after I finished last week…

Unless and until we accept the prophet’s call, we may be great caretakers, great scholars, sincere seekers, fine people, but we will never be fully “spiritual.”We will be liked, admired, respected, and – safe.  But truly spiritual?  Not completely.

The question is, Whose respect would we risk to have?  Would we want to be found on the side of the peacemakers, the single women, the discriminated against, the immigrants, the thinkers and the changers of a society whose corporate CEOs get richer every day while the middle class disappears and  the poor get more destitute by the hour?  Chapter 18

I finished The Time is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage bu Joan Chittister this morning and loved how her last chapter really brought the rest of the book into sharper focus by spurring us all into action.  I have been reading this as my morning devotional and the chapters have been longer and packed with so much to think about.  Here is a nun who is calling us all to greatness, to be modern day prophets.  Prophets for climate change, gun control, immigrants, peace and all the disenfranchised.  Pick a cause and get loud. Here are her closing thoughts,

What does a prophet do?  A prophet cries out, cries out, cries out.  Without fear.  Without care for cost.  Without end.  Dear Prophet, for the sake of the children, for the sake of the world, for the sake of the gospel, Cry out.

“Be not a whisper that is lost in the wind’ be a voice that is heard above the storms of life.”  Maimonides

I’m so glad that I read this.  It gives me hope.