So tomorrow is Remembrance Day in Canada. I love Remembrance Day. I love taking my kids to the ceremony and having the opportunity to talk about our nation's past history. I love getting to hear the military bands play. I love to hear and sing "O Canada". And, I love the minute of silence. I love how everything becomes so still. I am alone with my own thoughts about war -- its great and terrible costs -- and peace.
For me Remembrance Day is all about peace. I wear a poppy and think about those who sacrificed not because I think war is somehow romantic or necessary, but because I think that we will never achieve peace unless we remember the costs of war and conflict. I hope to pass that understanding on to my children.
I try to remember that peace begins at home and if I cannot achieve a semblance of peace in my home it is hard to imagine how peace can be achieved on a global scale. I am going to strive for a day where my children solve their conflicts in a constructive way (ie. no hitting or screaming), because it is unrealistic to assume we can have a day without any conflict.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Year of Living Biblically
I am behind on my book reviews, but I will review the book I read this month. "The year of living biblically" by A.J.Jacobs is a non fiction account of Mr. Jacobs attempt to follow the Bible literally for a year. He performs sacrifices, stones an adulterer, wears clothing made of non mixed fibers; you get the picture. It started out as an entertaining read. Jacobs has a fun tongue in cheek style of writing, but I must admit that after the first 100 pages or so it just felt too much the same.
My biggest complaint with this book though is that as a reader I felt like the only reason Jacobs was writing this book was to do just that; write a book. Forgive me for wanting the writer of a book about a spiritual journey to have one. Mostly I felt like Jacobs (a professed agnostic) poked fun at those who take their faith in God seriously. He is slightly kinder to members of the Jewish faith (he comes from a Jewish background).
The book may make those who are religious look at their own faith in a new way and for that reason I don't think it is a waste of time to read it.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars
My biggest complaint with this book though is that as a reader I felt like the only reason Jacobs was writing this book was to do just that; write a book. Forgive me for wanting the writer of a book about a spiritual journey to have one. Mostly I felt like Jacobs (a professed agnostic) poked fun at those who take their faith in God seriously. He is slightly kinder to members of the Jewish faith (he comes from a Jewish background).
The book may make those who are religious look at their own faith in a new way and for that reason I don't think it is a waste of time to read it.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars
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