Book Review:

Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope

by Joan Chittister/Eerdmans, 2004

Reviewed by Barbara Mraz

Joan Chittister set out to write a book about hope, but found that she couldn’t. Not by itself. Instead she addressed the question of why it is that some people come through struggle intact and even stronger, while others emerge more broken and pessimistic than ever.

Chittister is a Benedictine nun, a feminist, and the best-selling author of more than a dozen books such as Heart of Life: A Feminine Spirituality for Women and Men, and the classic In Search of Belief, a Study of the Apostles’ Creed. She heads Benetvision: “A Resource and Resource Center for Contemporary Spirituality” in Erie, Pennsylvania. For decades, Chittister has argued tirelessly for a spiritual maturity which embraces compassionate justice in all of its forms—economic, political, national, and personal. She has fought for equality for women, for oppressed minorities, and for the poor. She has spoken out against war. Hers continues to be a voice of uncommon courage, clarity and inspiration, not only on the issues of the day, but on the importance of a spiritual life as a basis for personal growth.

Scarred by Struggle traces the journey from despair to hope. Chittister alternates chapters about struggle, including realities such as change, isolation, darkness, fear, and exhaustion with chapters about the gifts brought by hope, including conversion, independence, faith, and endurance. The book has a personal feel, since Chittitser uses one of her own experiences of profound disappointment as the touchstone throughout. She also references the story of Jacob – a quintessential Biblical struggler—to guide us on our way.

Her words are direct: “Struggle begins with shock. It could never end. It would never end. My reputation could not end. My relationship could not end. My dreams could not end. But they do. And they did.”

Following struggle, she says, is the moment of great decision: “It demands that we either dig down deep into the wellspring that is our innermost selves and go beyond where we were…or we simply give up, stop in our tracks rooted to the spot, up to our ankles in bitterness and despair.”

Chittister not only discusses the personal changes that often precede struggle, but cultural ones as well:

“Never before in my lifetime has the entire universe, the social order, the sense of personal power, the promise of possibility, and even the surety of the spiritual life seemed so fragile. The world is pregnant with uncertainty. In the last fifty years, the foundations of life, both personal and public, have pitched and rolled….”

This compelling volume is practical, inspirational and hopeful. Like all of this remarkable woman’s work, it is grounded in deep insight and presented in clear and urgent language. “Life is a series of lessons,” she writes, “some of them obvious, some of them not.”

I read this book during a time of personal crisis, and hungrily devoured each chapter, looking for relief and guidance. I found them here. Chittister is an astute and inspiring guide for those times when life is horrible or wonderful, or both at the same time.

Reviewed by Barbara Mraz, deacon, St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, St. Paul , Minnesota . Mraz is the author of Finding Faith at the Movies (Morehouse, 2004).