Free A Season Of Mystery: 10 Spiritual Practices For Embracing A Happier Second Half Of Life Ebooks Online
We live in a culture that tells us there are few things worse than aging, that we should avoid aging at all costs, and that we must shun death. And yet, no matter how much money we spend on health supplements, no matter how many gurus we consult, the fact remains unchanged: We will grow old.In A Season of Mystery, 60-year-old Paula Huston—a grandmother, and also a caretaker for her own mother and for her in-laws—shares with readers a far more fulfilling way to approach how we live and how we think about the second half of life. Each chapter offers a spiritual practice that is particularly suited to nurturing us in ways we would never have recognized in our younger lives. For example, the practice of “listening” helps us quit superimposing our own take on every situation before we have a chance to hear and see what is truly there; the practice of “delighting” encourages us to notice and be thankful for what is small and seemingly insignificant. Each of the 10 practices serves as an antidote to the classic afflictions of old age, such as close-mindedness, complaining, and fear of change.A Season of Mystery is not intended to be a selection of self-improvement secrets; the goal of Huston’s work is to encourage people in the second half of life to become “ordinary mystics” who are no longer bound by the world’s false ideas on aging but instead be freed by God’s grace to embrace the riches that come only with growing older.
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Loyola Press (November 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0829437541
ISBN-13: 978-0829437546
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.7 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #223,103 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #67 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Catholicism > Self Help #613 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging #693 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Christian Living > Family
I purchased this book after reading a prior very profound book by the same author titled Forgiveness. This one is also excellent though quite different. Huston reveals more of her own background prior to returning to her Catholic faith and then becoming an oblate. She struggles now with the issues of aging and tells how we can avoid becoming a crotchety old person. The disciplines she describes include practices helpful to all: listening, delighting, lightening, settling, confronting, accepting, befriending, generating and blessing. A final chapter on Departing is touching and insightful. Husted illustrates each chapter with vignettes of her experiences with friends and family. She encourages us to view aging in a positive way, to appreciate the benefits of aging and the benefits of knowing and enjoying elderly friends.
A few months ago, as my new pregnancy companion book was launching, my mother-in-law approached me and made a request she's never made of me.She asked me to write a book.It's hard entering the second half of life, she explained. Her kids are all adults, and some of her grandkids have started having babies.She feels unprepared. She feels unsure. She feels like having a book to walk with her would be helpful at the very least.I agreed.But I didn't think I was the person to write it. For one thing, this is outside my experience.Thankfully, one of my favorite writers tackled the topic and wrote a book that I can now freely share and endorse: A Season of Mystery: 10 Spiritual Practices for Embracing a Happier Second Half of Life, by Paula Huston.I read this book mostly in one evening. I couldn't put it down.Huston writes honestly and candidly, in a way that not only engages the reader, but that also plants itself within you. I've been thinking about various aspects of what I've read for days now.I've always had a soft spot for the elderly, but now I think I have a deeper appreciation for the challenges that come with aging and changing seasons in life. I have a number of "mature mom" friends, and I cherish their wisdom; it hasn't occurred to me that I support them in their struggles even as I share my own!I won't be in my second half of life for a while, but many people I know and care about will be (or are). This book is topping my list of resources to share and reread myself as I support them.Highly recommended.
This book is a must read for every senior citizen. It is a "bucket list" of sorts. Paula list 10 things that as an aging adult we all need to make sure we are at peace with before we die. Of the 10 spiritual practices listed, I was OK on a few, but the rest I never gave thought to. I look forward to praying about these and putting them into my life. Thank you Paula for opening my eyes to some unseen needs.
This book will get you to thinking about your life, about your purpose in life. It is confessional yet enlightening, spiritual yet down to earth. Ms. Huston uses her life experiences as the basis for exploring a richer more rewarding life of giving to others. She provides a rich background of ecclesiastical history as she explores her voyage from personal chaos to peace.An enjoyable read for anyone searching for some meaning to life, regardless of their religious beliefs.
The sharing of the story of divesting yourself of the unnecessary things in life and moving to a simpler way of living evocts a way to view a Lenten journey that continues throughout each year and not just in the season of Lent. It is thoughtful and helps me look at my second half of my life in a different way.
This is a great read! Not only informative but also reflective and uplifting. No doubt getting older is a real challenge, but A Season of Mystery helps you walk through this time with dignity and hope.
This was a book chosen by a group at my church to read and discuss. It did promote discussion, but the frequent mentions of going to a monastery and reliance on discussing things with monks seemed to be something that our group couldn't fathom applying to our own lives. Easy to read -- lots of white on the pages -- but still thought provoking. Sometimes the material in the chapter did not seem to strongly relate to the title of the chapter.
If, like me, you want to relish growing older, don't miss this book. It's a journey with Ms. Huston in the discovery of simple practices to enhance the journey.
A Season of Mystery: 10 Spiritual Practices for Embracing a Happier Second Half of Life The Greetings from Somewhere Collection: Mysteries Around the World: The Mystery of the Gold Coin; The Mystery of the Mosaic; The Mystery of the Stolen Painting; The Mystery in the Forbidden City The Latter-day Morning: Create a Happier, More Successful, Spiritual Life Before Breakfast The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse: Recognizing and Escaping Spiritual Manipulation and False Spiritual Authority Within the Church Organize Your Life, How To Be Organized, Productive & Happier In Life,Declutter Your Home and Be Productive at Work. (How to plan your life, Get Organized Book 1) A Wilder Life: A Season-by-Season Guide to Getting in Touch with Nature Half Bad (The Half Bad Trilogy) Sexy Picture Book of a Naughty College Girl's first soft Striptease: Erotic half-nude pics of a young woman's half strip Half Wild (The Half Bad Trilogy Book 2) Half Wild (The Half Bad Trilogy) Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace: A Guided Imagery Meditation for Physical & Spiritual Wellness The Sage's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for the Second Half of Life How to Grow Old: Ancient Wisdom for the Second Half of Life The Encore Career Handbook: How to Make a Living and a Difference in the Second Half of Life Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life and Relationships Carry On, Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy, Beautiful Life Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life Half Moon Street [UNABRIDGED CD] (Audiobook) (The Charlotte and Thomas Pitt mystery series, Book 20) The Trainable Cat: A Practical Guide to Making Life Happier for You and Your Cat
