From “phenomeNEWS”
by Gayl Woityra
© February 2007
Surely it can’t be a surprise that Book Talk recommends books as gifts. I call this month’s Book Talk a “shopping list” because we shall examine several special books, hoping that one or more will be the perfect gift for a special person in your life.
First on our list is Detroit Free Press columnist, Mitch Albom’s new best seller: For One More Day (Hyperion, 2006). …
Our second “little” book is by one of my all time favorite authors, Pema Chodron: Practicing Peace in Times of War (Shambhala, 2006). …
Our third little book is by a worthy, although less famed author, Giselle M. Massi: We Are Here for a Purpose: How to Find Yours (Crow Hawk, 2001). Massi is a former writer and editor for The Denver Post.
A recent resident of Michigan, since July 2000 she has devoted her life to Spiritual Life Support work. Her book tells the story of this work and it is filled with inspirational guidance for readers.
Readers will discover that Massi is clairvoyant and following her father’s death in 1992, the two formed a partnership to help others spiritually. She receives his guidance and words of wisdom telepathically. Perhaps this sounds strange to some, but perhaps such communication between the departed and the living is somewhat more accepted, given current television shows such as Medium and Ghost Whisperer. In any case, how the message is transmitted or received clearly is not as important as the message itself. Massi’s book is the message and it provides helpful guidance to everyone, encouraging readers to “live life on purpose.”
Massi explains: “My father’s reasons for working with me in this way is simply to bring peace through each individual’s spiritual understanding and development. His desire is for people to know they definitely have a purpose to their life and help them discover that purpose. Then he encourages them to stay on track with it.”
Massi is a gifted storyteller. The first part of her book is exceptionally easy to read. She tells the story that leads up to cooperative work with her deceased father. The second half of the book presents the teachings of Massi’s father. The exercises and assignments from her father are particularly helpful, assisting each reader to move through the process.
What I especially enjoyed, however, are the father’s words of wisdom, words which tend to be down-to-earth and practical. Some of my favorites are:
> “You cannot escape your accountability.”
> “If you can’t help someone at least do them no harm.”
> “Leave things better than you found them.”
> And Massi’s father’s favorite saying: “Get on with it.”
There are many books today that can help individuals develop an understanding of the purpose of their lives. This is a charming addition to that collection. It encourages readers to “get on with it” and make the choice to live with purposeful intention. Massi also reminds us, “Since perfection is not possible as humans, perfection is not the end game or goal. ‘Practice is,’ my father says.”
Gayl Woityra is a retired high school English and Humanities teacher. Please visit http://love-that-spirit.blogspot.com