Faith Can Give Us Wings: The Art of Letting Go

by Notker Wolf

"Why do you look so happy?" people have been asking Notker Wolf for years, now. So he set out to answer them in this lively book.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Pamela Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and I am so glad to have read it before Christmas. Its not a book that you can speed read. Its something that you savour and read slowly. The Benedictine principles and way of life has piqued my interest through Notker's experience of it. Most of the things in this book Catholics are aware of but seldom put in practice. The need for less, the time for reflection, the need of community and listening to God, the quiet unrest that only GOD can satisfy. And I am happy that this book simply reiterates all of that. The book isn't going to teach you how to have faith, but through it you realize that you have it and need to grow in it. This book isn't preachy, from page one the author starts talking to you, not an audience but you. If you know someone struggling with faith, give them this book, its a real blessing.
One of the lines I love from this book, 'Gods light is so great that I can create no shadows in his sight.' And the book is full of little statements like these, that I would love to underline. I was going to give the book away after I was done, but I plan on re=reading this again when I struggle with faith.

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened upon this book at the local cathedral yesterday while I was browsing and thought I would give it a try. I'm glad I did, because I started reading it after 8 PM and couldn't put it down until I finished it. What a joyful book. It will not appeal much to non-Christians, but his analysis of why so many of us are unhappy can apply to people of any outlook. I feel a certain elation this morning after having read it and highly recommend it if you are looking for a simple path to follow that will lead you to great joy.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The following review is also on my blog (thoughtsprayersandsongs.com) in a slightly different format.

Every once in a while you discover a book which is  accessible but chock-full of  insight. Notker Wolf is the Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation.of the Order of Saint Benedict. I had never read anything by him and was not sure what to expect when I picked up Faith Can Give Us Wings: The Art of Letting I discovered an author who was perceptive, gracious and wise. This is a book which encourages readers to deepen their faith in God and to trust Him more. It is in 'letting go' that we discover God's presence and power at work in our lives.

Wolf organizes his reflections under four headings. Part One seeks to answer the question, "why have faith?"  He answers it existentially: faith is grounding, it helps us understand who we are, it helps us to live meaningfully, it reveals beauty, brings joy and imparts peace.But lest you think that faith  is merely a subjective experience (though it is certainly that!), Notker grounds the comfort and hope faith bring in the reality of Christ's resurrection. This gives a historical rootedness to the promise of faith:

If we don't believe the resurrection we can forget everything else. Jesus death would have been completely in vain, rendering absurd all he'd said and done before. Thankfully, Jesus did rise from the dead and through his death enables us to rid ourselves of sin in the presences of  our forgiving God (62).

Thus faith isn't just about feelings or positive thinking. Our faith in God is secure and beneficial for us, because the object of our faith (God through Christ's life, death and resurrection) is secure.

Part two asks, "how does [faith] work?" It works through trust. This is Wolfr's first word to us and the first step we take when we seek to grow in our faith.  Of course he says much more: we grow through prayer, through reading scripture (with commentaries), by sharing in community and living simply. These practices nourish faith and help us deepen our trust in God.

In his third section, Wolf describes 'life with God.'  Living with God involves learning to say yes to him, surrendering our fears and opening ourselves to him. It also means submitting to his guidance,  relinquishing false expectations, growing in love and preparing for suffering. In short, life with God is about letting go: letting go, " At times, the journey will be awkward. A sudden squall of wind might throw us off course. But just as a child becomes stronger through practice, each of us can develop the needed strength to stay on the path of faith" (184).

In his final section, Wolf describes how faith gives us wings: casts out our fears and enables us to fly. He explores the metaphor of a Caterpillar in a cocoon. Faith is like a cocoon which brings about a spiritual transformation in us. But sometimes the miracle of spiritual transformation is not readily apparent to those of us being transformed:

A butterfly does not simply appear, fully formed. It first takes the form of a caterpillar and spins a cocoon. In certain phases of our life, faith grows almost imperceptibly, seeking ways to unfold and develop.  Looking at a caterpillar, we cannot see what it will become; its development and transformation take time, though it will  finally emerge as a butterfly of elegant beauty. . . .Faith can be like a protective cocoon within which we can develop into the person we are intended to be. As with the cocoon, we cannot know what sort of glory will eventually emerge (193).

As we submit to God, 'let go' of our expectations and trust him, we discover who he is making us to be, and the God who flies with us through all life's circumstances.

This is not an academic book, though Wolf is theologically astute and the book is thoughtfully stated. Rather this is a book that slakes our thirst for God and causes us to hunger for more of his presence in our lives. I highly recommend this book. I appreciated it because it introduced me to a new author whom I had not read before with depth of spiritual insight. Most of Wolf's books are not in English, but I am grateful to Mark Burrows and Paraclete Press for sharing with the English speaking world, "What odes the Wolf say?"  I give it five stars: ★★★★★

Thank you to Paraclete Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.