Poem #20

Treat each moment

With the motto

“Catch and Release”

And the wonders

Of the world

Will never cease

Poem #19

Live in acceptance

those who are openminded

don’t die empty-handed

the treasure of your life

will be overflowing.

Poem #18

Always on the move

And on the go

If I stopped

You’d see me blown away

By what I’m unaware of

Blog #16

So far what I have read from Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercieshas been quite enjoyable and easy to get into.  A lot of times when people deal with matters of faith and religion they can be really hesitant and choose their words carefully.  Lamott is totally blunt and honest and even leaves a little room for cynicism, uncommon for Christian literature.  Christian literature almost seems an unfair label for this work.

Although Professor Harrison asked us to concentrate on the stories within the regular chapters, I especially enjoyed the introductory chapters on her relationship with her family as young person and her evolving spirituality.  As heroic journey is the favorite phrase of this class, this section stuck out to me because of all the changes it put on display.  Lamott’s friend Pammy reminded me of Siddhartha’s friend Govinda, although Pammy was much less dependent.  She is someone that stuck with Lamott no matter the situation especially in light of her alcohol dependence.

The introductory chapters were also a great example of “the call” that we always talk about when discussing the monomyth.  Lamott’s family was not at all encouraging of her evolving christian faith but at the same time whatever she was going through, no matter the case, she always believed in God.  Her parents and her social circle throughout much of her early life were of the progressive liberal agnostic/atheist outlook yet Anne couldn’t shake her feelings.  For years she refused that call but eventually she answered it.