A Sense of Wonder The World s Best Writers on the Sacred, the Profane, and the Ordinary Brian Doyle, Editor ORBIS BOOKS Maryknoll, New York 10545 www.orbisbooks.com
ORBIS BOOKS Maryknoll, New York 10545 www.orbisbooks.com Founded in 1970, Orbis Books endeavors to publish works that enlighten the mind, nourish the spirit, and challenge the conscience. The publishing arm of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Orbis seeks to explore the global dimensions of the Christian faith and mission, to invite dialogue with diverse cultures and religious traditions, and to serve the cause of reconciliation and peace. The books published reflect the views of their authors and do not represent the official position of the Maryknoll Society. To learn more about Maryknoll and Orbis Books, please visit our website at MaryknollSociety.org. Copyright 2016 by Portland Magazine Published by Orbis Books, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Queries regarding rights and permissions should be addressed to: Orbis Books, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302. Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Doyle, Brian, 1956 November- editor. Title: A sense of wonder: the world s best writers on the sarcred, the profane, and the ordinary / edited by Brian Doyle. Description: Maryknoll : Orbis Books, 2016. Includes bibliographical references. Identifiers: LCCN 2016011805 (print) LCCN 2016021498 (ebook) ISBN 9781626982086 (pbk.) ISBN 9781608336753 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Spirituality. Classification: LCC BL624.S468 2016 (print) LCC BL624 (ebook) DDC 204 dc23 LC record available at https://iccn.loc.gov/2016011805
CONTENTS Introduction: Bruised with Joy Brian Doyle 13 An Elevator in Utah: On How Children Make Despair Look Stupid David James Duncan 15 On Laughing: Notes on the Funnest Sound There Is Patrick Madden 19 Do You Think There Is Anything Not Attached by Its Unbreakable Cord to Everything Else? Mary Oliver 24 Burying Mrs. Hamilton: A Sacrament in the Snow Father Leroy Clementich, C.S.C. 27 Every War Has Two Losers: Oregon s Late Poet Laureate on the Madness of Violence William Stafford 30 7
8 A SENSE OF WONDER On Not Being Good at Reading the Bible Helen Garner 37 Learning to Love: Notes on Praying a River John Daniel 45 I Hold His Hand Steve Duin 49 This Soul Has Six Wings: Notes on Ash and Mystics and Love and Fire and Taking It Seriously Jessie Van Eerden 52 Hep! Hep! Hep! Cynthia Ozick 59 One of a Kind and All the Same: Notes on Hate and Love and Possibility Thomas Lynch 69 The Closest to Love We Ever Get: Maybe the Noisy Song We All Make Together Is the Most Powerful Prayer of All Heather King 75 We Have Always Been Here: An Umatilla Woman Ponders the Corps of Discovery Roberta Conner 78
Contents 9 Who Am I? Notes on Ecstatic Moments John Coats 89 When I Knew: Godlessness and God on September 11 Patrick Giles 93 The Late Mister Bin Laden: A Note Brian Doyle 96 Bald Places: Notes on Nursing as Witness Hob Osterlund 98 God Owns a Convenience Store in British Columbia: Who Knew? Gae Rusk 102 The Reality of Torture Martin Flanagan 104 A Burning Soul Mary Gordon 109 I Hear and Behold God in Every Object, Yet Understand God Not in the Least Pattiann Rogers 122 The River Paul Myers 125
10 A SENSE OF WONDER Native: Notes on Americanness Ian Frazier 128 Across the Void: A Note on Crazy and Crucial Hope Robin Cody 136 Madre de Dios: On the Unimaginable Ocean of Her Love Barry Lopez 143 Who Am I, Lord, That You Should Know My Name? A Note on Believing, Against All Sense and Reason Bruce Lawrie 150 Words Are Not Enough Alice Lok Cahana 153 Her: On a Dream Coming Beautifully True Bill McNamara 159 A War Story: In the Middle of Iraq in the Middle of a War, There Was a Moment.... Pete Rooks 161 The Call to Forgiveness at the End of the Day Kathleen Dean Moore 163 A Chapel Is Where You Can Hear Something Beating Below Your Heart: I Came to the Chapel at the University as the Light Was Falling.... Pico Iyer 167
Contents 11 The Hope of a Trail: For All I Know I Am Approaching the Holiest Place in the World. Who Can Say? Who Knows? We Know Nothing.... Rick Bass 174 When I Was Blind: Blindness Was Full of Second Sight.... Edward Hoagland 178 Why I Am a Priest Father Charles Gordon, C.S.C. 181 Perfect Time: A Note on the Music of Being a Dad Connor Doe 186 Healing or Stealing? The Best Commencement Address Ever Paul Hawken 188