by Kevin O’Brien, SJ
Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Profiles in Catholicism
The author, Kevin O’Brien SJ is a Jesuit priest, lifelong educator, and former practicing attorney. He brings a unique blend of insight and real life experience to his writing, leadership and spiritual direction. In this text he invites us to discover the meaning and purpose as you navigate the turbulent river of life. Seeing with the Heart is a tour de force that weaves together the author’s personal experiences, the 16th century wisdom of Ignatius of Loyola and the insights of sages, poets artists and storytellers throughout the ages. O’Brien reveals how we can realize our potential by embracing our struggles with courage, our questions with curiosity, and our destiny with boldness as we tap into our deepest desires and live with authenticity.
The book is written with clarity and competence as the author assists us in figuring out our pathway with inspiring prose and practical spiritual exercises that will cause a dramatic shift in your perspective. My day to day life was transformed by a deeper understanding of who I am and what I am called to be as well as by a closer relationship with Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the people in my communities. At the end of each chapter, O’Brien gives us some spiritual exercises that if we seek the answers with our heart, they will come. For example, in Chapter 6, living with Compassion, the author gives us these three suggestions:
Consider the parable of the Good Samaritan. When have you acted like the Good Samaritan? Life the religious officials who walked by? Like the man in need of healing? Recall specific examples of people showing kindness to you and you showing kindness to others. Where is there room for more kindness or tenderness in your life?
Read Matthew 14:13-21 or Matthew 20:29-34 and put yourself into the action of the Gospel scene. Imagine the sights, sounds, and people in the scene. Go through it once as if observing the action. And then review the scene again, putting yourself in the story somewhere, Imagine Jesus being moved with compassion. What does Jesus look like? What does he say and do? How do people respond? Imagine that you tell Jesus something you need. How does he look upon you? What does he say to you?
Remember a time when you responded compassionately to a person in need. What were you feeling? How did the other person respond? What did you learn? Was there mutuality of relationship present? What justice questions does this interaction raise?
In the Conclusion O’Brien states “We are pilgrims winding our way home in a world of grace, or river of grace. Courageously, we make our way down that river, with the Ignatian tradition of spirituality to guide us like a rudder among restless currents. Through this tradition, we cultivate habits of attentiveness, reflection and discernment so that we can live with greater purpose and meaning. We learn to live gratefully and deeply, not Jet Skiing through life but scuba diving. We learn to see not just with our eyes but also with our heart, so that we can enjoy fields of dreams along the way. We give ourselves permission to take a long, loving look at the real, and stand, sit or kneel in awe of the beauty and splendor around us, heaven bursting forth, holy ground (or water) shimmering everywhere.
Love is hard and complicated bit it is also our salvation. It pulls us out of our self-isolation and self-preoccupation and ties us to God, others, and all of creation. Love soothes our loneliness and salves the wounds we carry, whether they are hidden or apparent to all. We are not alone, enveloped as we are by the communion of saints, that is, people who tried their best, who feast in banquets and break bread together here and in heaven.
Buy this book for a friend: it is so well written and thoughtfully crafted for the reader to replenish the soul. Keep a copy of the book yourself. I am!
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