Certainly a product of its time. I've appreciated Norris' writing in the past. Some good nuggets but not as mind blowing as I've heard. I could relate with some of it, but felt too generalized. ( )

"In this insightful and deeply personal work, Kathleen Norris, an award-winning poet and author of both Dakota: A Spiritual Geography and The Cloister Walk, draws on her life experiences, her poetry and her love of the Benedictine tradition to discuss the mysterious way that the daily or "quotidian" can open us to the transforming presence of God."

The drudgery of life is holy. Before enlightenment; wash dishes, do laundry. After enlightenment; wash dishes, do laundry. To gain enlightenment; wash dishes, do laundry. ( )

After many years ignoring church, the author attended an elaborated wedding and was amazed to see the overdressed, bulky-robed priest "puttering about" the altar, cleaning up, and washing the dishes after communion. A connection was made. She was a stranger, a housewife, used to a demeaning, second-class definition of "women's work" The priest's bit of "housework" welcomed her. When she was fifteen years old, she realized she was not cut out to be a mother and eventually found an ancient, deep, cultural stigma surround that as well. A very personal little book, recommended for both genders. NOV 2005

A brief exploration of how daily work (that is, the tasks that must be done over and over, the dishes, the laundry: the drudgery) can be an important way of accessing spirituality. Interesting, and probably worth/requiring a second read. ( )