The Other Side of Chaos: Breaking Through When Life Is Breaking Down

by Margaret Silf

First Place, Inspirational category
ACP Excellence in Publishing Awards, 2012
From satisfying work to sudden unemployment. From a happy marriage to a hurtful divorce. From caring for the kids to caring for an aging parent. These are just a few of the countless ways that life hurls us into the chaos of change, where our certainties are shaken and our faith may even begin to falter. But what if we saw the chaos—the “mess”—of our lives not as something to fear or eschew, but as something to be embraced?
In The Other Side of Chaos , best-selling author Margaret Silf looks closely at the subject of chaos—and the intrinsic transition it brings—through the lens of Christian spirituality. Through Scripture stories and verses, personal accounts, and other anecdotes, Silf helps us develop an authentic “spirituality of transition” that leads us to live out life’s changes constructively, creatively, and confidently.
Ultimately, The Other Side of Chaos gives us the courage to trust God when life is breaking down and to see our messes not as something to be rescued from, but as something that will help us break through to a place where God makes all things new.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, Christian

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[Sue Wargo]

I purchased this book at a retreat I took a couple years ago. But it showed up while I was cleaning the other day, and I take nothing for granted. I never read the book, but it seems now was the time. This a spiritual approach to life's chaotic circumstances. It was just what I needed as I contemplated my own life's next steps after losing my job. I read a couple chapters at a time and reflected on the message. I found it valuable & meaningful

[Julie Carosella]

I highly recommend this book if you are getting to enter or in the process of transitioning to the next stage of your life. i have just started working full time after being a stay at home Mom and this book answered a lot of the questions and explained a lot of what i have been going through.

[Pamela]

This book looks at many parts of life that don’t seem to make sense, especially undesired transitions, as times to lean in and pay attention rather than as seasons to avoid or to label as results of your own bad choices and failures. Offers much to consider that may lead to more grace and kindness towards oneself and others.

[Haley McGahey]

Loved this book but found it difficult to fully relate to since I'm not currently going through a large transitional period.

Note to self: Save this book to read when you're going through a big transition or to pass on to a friend who is.

[Elaine]

Given to me by a friend to help with going through some hardships. Some good advice and lots of biblical references and images, but quite redundant saying the same things in many different ways. Not a bad book, but I think a lot of the message in here we all already know as common sense!

[James Millikan]

Loved the first few chapters but it lost me when it started getting into the "physics" of breakdowns/breakthroughs.

[Alyssa Foll]

A great devotional read for the new year... and for any and all changes and transitions.

[Linda]

The concepts in this book are not new to me, but the perspectives on them are inspiring and interesting. I like how she offers reflective questions at regular intervals and I would love to read this book again slowly with a group. She offers contrast between the old and new testament Passover stories that is fascinating and her perspective on the story of Moses and the flight of the Israelites is quite good. Also the listing of biblical references to dealing with life's challenges can come in handy. I usually pass books on, which I might in this case. But I will insist it be returned.

[Tamara D]

This is worth the time to read if you are facing major or even minor life transitions. Change happens to all of us, but change makes us uncomfortable and scares us, especially when there is no easy way out. This book has no pat answers but gives the reader a new way to think about change and transition. Will it make facing change easier? Perhaps; perhaps not, but I can guarantee that after reading this book, you will look at change and it's effects differently.

[Eileen]

I had hoped this book would be more helpful but it's a little too general. I did learn some hopeful things, though, that were good to know about going through a period of transition – for instance that I can participate in birthing something new out of the old when things fall apart. And some reminders were good – like allowing a thing to die when it's time, and that the pattern of life, death and resurrection repeats itself endlessly, in nature and in our lives.

[Crystal]

The advise is good enough.. that there are good things that come out of bad things... it just didn't speak to me at a deep level. However, there was one really great thing about this book.. the good news, bad news story that I have been looking for since I first heard it..maybe in Fr. Joe's class? It's here!!!! That made me happy. Talks about all kinds of different chaos and the goodness that can come from getting through them..

[Johnny]

Read for a workplace retreat. I don't dis-recommmend this book for people looking for this sort of book. I'll just take fiction or even memoir over self-help for both form AND function any day.

Super repetitive and circular.

[Jeffrey]

Repetitive. This book could easily be 90 pages if the un-needed fluff was taken out. Good message, just lack luster delivery.

[Mary Beth]

I love Margaret Silf's images. They give me lots to think about and invite me to grow more deeply.

[Marjorie]

A truly powerful read. This book helped me get through one of my hardest transition in my life and gave me hope and faith to get to the other side.

[Bobbie N]

An easy-to-read, easy-to-understand guide tp working through the transitional times in our lives