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74 pages

English

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"Peace! Be still!" Mark 4:39The apostles are trapped in a mighty storm, their fishing boat on the brink of capsizing. . . . And Jesus slept. This confused, scared, and even angered the apostles, who could not fight back the storm. But as always, Christ is our model.In these modern times, we often find ourselves adrift in a storm of stress, anxiety, and chronic busy-ness. We all suffer from it. In these moments, it's easy to react like the apostles. To panic, to become angry, to be frightened.But like Christ, we should strive to be still amidst the storm. Here, Conor Gallagher (as a father of 12, no stranger to life's chaos) helps you reflect upon and cultivate three remedies to the stress of modern life:encountering God in the present moment which requires of a stillness of mind, to remain in the moment instead of fretting over past mistakes or future anxietieslistening to the voice of God, which can only be heard by blocking out the relentless noise of the world and calming our increasingly restless souls resting in serene stillness by resisting the stir-crazy spirit of the world and rejecting busy-ness for busy-ness sake In a world that constantly bombards us with noise, this little book offers a wealth of practical advice and real-world guidance on how to cut out stress, anxiety, and worry so that we may rest in the Lord and hear his voice, so that we may be Still Amidst the Storm.

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Philosophie et théologie

Catholic Church

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Publié par	TAN Books
Date de parution	22 avril 2019
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781505112672
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0600€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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S TILL A MIDST THE S TORM
S TILL A MIDST THE S TORM
A Family Man’s Search for Peace in an Anxious World
Conor Gallagher
TAN Books Charlotte, North Carolina
Still Amidst the Storm © 2018 Conor Gallagher
All rights reserved. With the exception of short excerpts used in critical review, no part of this work may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in any form whatsoever, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible—Second Catholic Edition (Ignatius Edition), copyright © 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture texts noted as NABRE are taken from the New American Bible, Revised Edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Cover design by Caroline K. Green
ISBN: 978-1-5051-1266-5
Published in the United States by TAN Books PO Box 410487 Charlotte, NC 28241 www.TANBooks.com
Printed in the United States of America
ACCLAIM FOR
Still Amidst the Storm

“Who among us can say they don’t spend a considerable amount of time struggling with anxiety and worry? In his new book, Still Amidst the Storm , Conor Gallaher helps us reflect on how habits of worry and anxiety are easy to fall into. But therein lies an opportunity to grow closer to God, one another, and the peace we all seek.
“His insights from everyday life experiences are wonderful, relatable to our own, and his reflections point us to innumerable ways we can enrich our lives through everyday occurrences. I found it hard to put the book down and found myself reflecting often on his conclusions and suggested roadmap to a better, more fulfilling, and peaceful life in a very busy and noisy world.
“An exceptional read penned by an exceptional young man.”
Alan Napleton, president of the    Catholic Marketing Network
“In this book, Conor has given a great gift to every spouse and parent who is looking for God in the midst of married and family life. It is an oasis of wisdom and refreshment for the weary and tired. It’s a gift!”
Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, best-selling author and Crux contributor
“For Conor Gallagher, everyday moments are parables that can enlighten and transform us. He shows us how to find deep within the present moment a rich spiritual significance if we’re willing to cultivate silence and stillness. In doing so, of course, he echoes the wisdom of another Teacher who once taught through parables, whose words calmed the sea and gave birth to Still Amidst the Storm.”
Paul Thigpen, best-selling author of Manual for Spiritual Warfare
“Carpe momentum! This little book chronicles a Catholic father’s quest for peace and presence in a world that would tear us from what we love most. Written with humility and humor, it is perfect for a men’s or women’s retreat, or as a retreat in itself. Wonderful!”
Suzanne Cona, Charlotte, NC
“As I began to read Conor Gallagher’s latest, I knew from past experience and from our friendship, that this book would be woven from two main elements—reality and creativity; or, we might say, the practicality of this world and the hilarity and inspiration which lift us heavenward! Quickly, I found myself wondering if Conor hadn’t been hiding somewhere in the Garden of Eden, watching the whole enactment of original sin while learning the deeper lessons about our human nature! Anyone who reads this delightful stream-of-consciousness writing, while also being open to the sometimes gut-wrenching ‘Oh my! That scalawag is me!’ will find it to be an examination of conscience laced with nuggets of pure delight! I know I did and I hope many, many people will as well! Only one request: in your next book, Conor, could you please give an uplifting story about us Religious Sisters?! Okay, you are forgiven —and yes, I will be sharing this book with countless of my friends as all of us have something vital, spiritually speaking, in common: original sin and the desire for holiness! To reach that holiness, self-knowledge is essential and Conor has nailed us all (and himself too) spot on!”
Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, OP, Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, Ann Arbor, MI
“This little gem of a book is not worth the price that is being charged for it because it is priceless. It contains whispered wisdom in a world of noise; a sacred stillness in the midst of life’s stampede. It teaches us to take time so that we don’t waste it. Indeed it shows us that the gift of life is gained in time taken and is lost in time wasted. It shows us that our lives are, in Hopkins’ timeless words, “soft sift in an hour glass”. For this reason, the time taken to read this book will save so much time which might otherwise have been wasted. It is, therefore, time well spent.”
Joseph Pearce, best-selling author
“With his newest book, Conor draws the reader on with his delightful mix of classical, yet comic perspectives, taking on the real day-to-day challenges of married and family life and inserting them into the beauty of God’s plan for our salvation and sanctification. An enjoyable and inspiring read!”
Mother Dolores Marie, PCPA, Our Lady of the Angels Monastery
To the man who even the wind and sea obey
C ONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
P ART 1 : T HE P RESENT M OMENT
Introduction to the Present Moment
My Daughter and the Caveman
Anxiety Enters Eden
Meeting God at the River
Surviving a Panic Attack
Worse Than a Bullet Wound
A Forty-Year Bleed
Breaking Pencils
The Magic of Mason Jars
The Eleventh Inning
The Marriage Revelation
P ART 2 : S ILENCE
Introduction to Silence
Angels Sing Silence
The Hardest Penance Ever
Yoga Yuppies at Starbucks
Silence in Words
Playing God
The Dangers of a Good Memory
The Negative of too Much Positive
Playing Poorly With a Stacked Deck
God Ain’t in No Ivory Tower
P ART 3 : S TILLNESS
Introduction to Stillness
The Devil’s Trojan Horse
Pacing Behind Home Plate
The Enemy of Corporate America
Making People Out of Clay
Waiting for the Airport Shuttle
C ONCLUSION
Death by Komodo Dragon
P REFACE 1
T his book was an accident.
My wife and I married young, and I’ve been busy ever since. We have twelve kids (yes, all biological and one wife), I run a business, sit on too many committees and boards, coach little league, and eat too much junk food. I also sporadically work out too hard to the point of injury. I hate feeling “plugged-in” all day and despise (with sinful wrath) sitting in traffic. Sometimes I feel the world is running me ragged and that I am only good at a lot of things but not great at anything. I have been too busy being busy.
Know the feeling?
I am very concerned that my children are too modern. We homeschool and raise them in a traditional environment, but I still find my three-year-old hiding with an iPad, playing Internet games, and my heart sinks.
My pressing question: Am I failing? Have I succumbed to the trappings of the modern world?
The haunting answer: Too early to tell.
Nonetheless, I have become obsessed with the question “how does my family find peace in an anxious world?” I feel pressure to find an answer (quickly) because my kids keep getting older, despite my direct orders to stay young and innocent forever.
Even with twelve kids, I will eventually run out of opportunities to get this stuff right. Lord, have mercy on me.
The original chapters of this book were half-baked journal entries I intend to give to my children. I want them to know my thoughts on important subjects. And the more I focused on the subjects contained therein, the more I saw that everyone— everyone —is battling the same issues in the modern world.
There is an epidemic of anxiety. Lord, have mercy on us all.
I did not sit down to write a book. The truest critique of this book is that it isn’t much of a book. It lacks cohesiveness. It does not logically unfold like a treatise. It certainly lacks research. What it does have, however, is the heartfelt reflection of a Christian husband and father who is trying to get it right. The book is a series of reflections on real life experiences, experiences that most people have every day.
If this book is worthy of your time, it’s not because I am unique but because I am common. I am like any other husband, father, employee, or employer.
I am a mere family man seeking stillness amidst the storm.
Conor Gallagher Easter Sunday 2018
_____________
1 There is a difference between a preface and an introduction. A preface is about the book as a book: how and why it came into being. An introduction is about the content of the book.
I NTRODUCTION
F EELING T ORN A PART
Or
How the Present Moment, Silence, and Stillness Will Put You Back Together
“As for you, son of man, groan! with shattered loins and bitter grief, groan in their sight.” Ezekiel 21:11 (NABRE)
S aint Hippolytus of Rome (AD 170–235) had his feet and hands tied to horses and was ripped apart. Many saints have been quartered. Horses were used in ancient times. Machines were used in the Middle Ages and perfected in England during the Reformation.
We say things like, “I feel torn,” or, “The death of his wife tore him apart.” What a vicious metaphor! I hesitate to use it out of respect for St. Hippolytus and all those Jesuits on Queen Elizabeth’s rack. I don’t go around saying, “I feel crucified,” or, “I feel skinned alive.” Nonetheless, I will use torn to describe something. Perhaps I should ask St. Hippolytus’s intercession to put me back together again.
I feel torn. And I think most people in the modern world feel the same way—at least those of us in the first world. This little book ad