Peck Peck Peck

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The four stages of community formation are somewhat related to a model in organization theory for the five stages that a team goes through during development. These five stages are: A laboratory for personal disarmament: members experientially discover the rules for peacemaking and embrace its virtues. They feel and express compassion and respect for each other as fellow human beings. With the bright illustrations you've come to expect from the Maisy series, this is a lovely book about a child's enthusiasm and a parent's love. I see that many people gave the book one or two stars because they think it "promotes destructive behavior" and encourages children to "make holes in other people's property." I disagree. I started this book 2 months ago, which is a long time according to my standards, however, I don't regret it one bit.

I felt like a toddler, entering this world of human and spiritual growth. I still do, for the most part. There's a lot to learn about being human. Hell, there's a whole different language that marks the terrain, and much of it was foreign to me. As Christmas rolls around, the Barnhart family realizes that they’ve found a true home, and a neighbor who gives gifts that will last a lifetime. It ends by encouraging us to be open to grace, to welcome it whenever it comes, to prepare ourselves by becoming disciplined, wholly loving individuals, but to not actively seek it. "The awareness of the existence of grace can be of considerable assistance to those who have chosen to travel the difficult path of spiritual growth. For this awareness will facilitate their journey in at least three ways: it will help them to take advantage of grace along the way; it will give them a surer sense of direction; and it will provide encouragement." There is quite a bit in here that I do not agree with and some things that just seem banal or just untrue. But there are other parts that are so incredibly insightful and overwhelmingly true--which made me wish that I had read this book earlier. A lot of people may have issues with the last 1/3 of the book when the author delves into his religious beliefs and philosophy, but I have to admit that that was my favorite part. I think he accurately describes the nature of God and the process of man becoming like God. This part is the least "scientific", but the most inspiring.

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To keep this review from lengthening too much, I would just like to say that ultimately the author stresses on the importance of utilising every single experience of one’s own life to evolve into higher consciousness and this includes ‘love’ and ‘creative pursuits.’ That is, not using anything for the expansion of the ego but for the ultimate expansion into infinite consciousness. When children hear the story again and again, they will get to know it really well and want to say it in their own words, using the pictures to help them. Listen for the ways they use words and phrases from the story. This confidence will help them to read the story independently. I give this book five stars because I can honestly say that reading it has made me a better person. I have plenty of criticisms, which I will get to, but the bottom line is that there are a lot of difficult truths in this book and it stands as a challenge and a guide to the reader to progress and develop beyond where you may be comfortable. I do not often read or like this genre of book, but my mom has been recommending this book to me for years and I finally borrowed her copy (which incidentally was published the year I was born!). The subtitle suggests this is THE 'classic work on relationships, spiritual growth and life's meaning', but I disagree. I have read better.

My thoughts——> Most homes I have personally come by (in India) have revealed corporal punishment as the mode of disciplining someone. Author’s voice—> The feeling of being valuable— ‘I am valuable person’- is essential to mental health and is a cornerstone of self-discipline, which is a direct product of parental love. Actually, the author doesn't get too into Christianity until the second half of the book. The first two sections, called "Discipline" and "Love," are pretty much free of this, and I found them absolutely riveting. I'd read something like, "Listening is an act of love" and then find myself trying to listen better to my kids, which is what any self-help book should do to its reader. I found myself looking forward to reading more so that I could apply more ideas. To put it in Jewish terms, this book is an "avodah." His forays into philosophy, theology and neuroscience didn't lend much credibility to his arguments. The final part of the book was clumsy, contradictory and seemed somewhat outdated. The chapter on synchronocity/serendipity was particularly trudgeworthy. He dragged psychology out of science and into mysticism. Which is fine if you're a fan of Oprah and Chopra. I'm not.

LoveReading4Kids Says

So, jokes apart, it’s really sad that more than half of the people in the world are floundering in their relationships. What good it would have done them to have read a book like this first! You don’t love to get, you love to expand and include that ‘other’ as ‘yourself.’ : ) Little did she know that her casual words sent my mind racing, and I was thinking of this term, resourced, for the next couple of weeks.