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Caring for Joy: Narrative, Theology and Practice
In Caring for Narrative, Theology, and Practice Mary Clark Moschella offers a new account of the value of joy in caregiving vocations, demonstrating how the work of caring for persons, communities, and the world need not be a dreary endeavor overwhelmed by crises or undermined by despair. Moschella presents glimpses of joy-in-action in the narratives of five notable Heidi Neumark, Henri Nouwen, Gregory Boyle, Pauli Murray, and Paul Farmer, gleaning their wisdom for the construction of a theology of joy that embodies compassion, connection, justice, and freedom. Care must be deep enough to hold human suffering and spacious enough to take in the divine goodness, beauty, and love. This book expands the pastoral theological imagination and narrates joy-full approaches to transformational care.
"This work is a scholarly, engaging and compassionate call to reconsider the significance of joyful living and joyful lives in radical pastoral theology."
-- Heather Walton, University of Glasgow , President of the International Academy of Practical Theology, July 2016.
"Based on biographies, interviews, and life stories, Mary Clark Moschella presents joy as a counter-cultural emotion, as a spiritual path, and as a fruit of the Spirit. In her research, joy and reason are not ultimately opposed."
-- Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Professor of Pastoral Care, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University , July 2016.
"This highly readable and compelling theology of joy will inspire you to explore how joy might energize your vocation, especially caregiving vocations that use narrative approaches to spiritual care and pastoral counseling. I plan on using this book as a textbook in my theodicy, grief, death and dying, and vocational courses."
-- Carrie Doehring, Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Iliff School of Theology, Denver , August 2016
"Mary Moschella has given us a rare text, one that is theologically rich, intellectually sophisticated, drenched in pastoral wisdom, and beautifully written. She gives us a pastoral theology attuned to the realities of diversity and sensitive to the complex challenges facing those who lives constantly interface with suffering. There is simply nothing else like this book in pastoral care."
-- Willie James Jennings, Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies, Yale University , August 2016
"This work is a scholarly, engaging and compassionate call to reconsider the significance of joyful living and joyful lives in radical pastoral theology."
-- Heather Walton, University of Glasgow , President of the International Academy of Practical Theology, July 2016.
"Based on biographies, interviews, and life stories, Mary Clark Moschella presents joy as a counter-cultural emotion, as a spiritual path, and as a fruit of the Spirit. In her research, joy and reason are not ultimately opposed."
-- Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Professor of Pastoral Care, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University , July 2016.
"This highly readable and compelling theology of joy will inspire you to explore how joy might energize your vocation, especially caregiving vocations that use narrative approaches to spiritual care and pastoral counseling. I plan on using this book as a textbook in my theodicy, grief, death and dying, and vocational courses."
-- Carrie Doehring, Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Iliff School of Theology, Denver , August 2016
"Mary Moschella has given us a rare text, one that is theologically rich, intellectually sophisticated, drenched in pastoral wisdom, and beautifully written. She gives us a pastoral theology attuned to the realities of diversity and sensitive to the complex challenges facing those who lives constantly interface with suffering. There is simply nothing else like this book in pastoral care."
-- Willie James Jennings, Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies, Yale University , August 2016
320 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2016
14 people want to read
About the author
Mary Clark Moschella
11 books1 followerMary Clark Moschella is Roger J. Squire Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Yale University School of Divinity, is the author or editor of three books and numerous articles in the area of pastoral research.
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May 7, 2018
Rev. Dr. Mary Moschella has given us a gift in this remarkable book. She proposes that we focus on “joy as a gift of God, a gift meant to be received, magnified, shared for the wellbeing of creation.” This focus is given grounding in the stories of people serving with the “least of these.” Mary’s book is breaking new ground by inviting a comprehensive immersion in a complex understanding of joy IN service, not in self indulgence. This work is intended for anyone who seeks to deepen and sustain their Christian service. I believe it is rare and essential book for anyone in pastoral care and chaplaincy. As we work at the edge of suffering and service, we become depleted without this important foundation.
The exploration of joy in this book is carefully and narrowly defined. Mary acknowledges that focusing on a superficial or self focused happiness can be irresponsible in a world with the realities of suffering, injustice, inequity and horror. Yet in this work, joy is explored, deepened and illustrated by stories from people who have been ground breaking in terms of social justice.
While the focus remains on the mystery of joy, Mary is unflinching in admitting the ambivalence. Can we focus on joy when so many are suffering? Is a focus on joy a privilege not available to all? These questions are addressed as she introduces us to 5 people who serve at the boundaries between those who are inside and outside, between those who are accepted and rejected.
The deep reflections on joy in all of it’s complexity drew me into a celebration of the types of service we provide as chaplains. The theological reflections are embedded throughout the book, with a lyrical and evocative voice. The poetic language and honest self reflection matches the content and the process; it is a joy to read. The alternation between theory and praxis grounds the abstract into the concrete and practical. These five people illustrate joy as they serve with gangs, with people in Haiti, with those who are oppressed and with the outcast. We are invited to experience a broader deeper definition of joy through the myriad ways of doing abundant and loving justice in a broken world. Instead of a focus on begrudging sacrifice or on an individualistic concept of personal happiness, the people here serve out of the overflow, out of the generous mystery and paradox of the mutuality of giving and receiving. As we read we are invited to expand our own awareness of our service as joy and to celebrate. This book is a much needed compliment to the many pastoral care works which develop and explore sadness, grief and suffering. We cannot chose one pole of human experience over the other; we live in the mystery.
The exploration of joy in this book is carefully and narrowly defined. Mary acknowledges that focusing on a superficial or self focused happiness can be irresponsible in a world with the realities of suffering, injustice, inequity and horror. Yet in this work, joy is explored, deepened and illustrated by stories from people who have been ground breaking in terms of social justice.
While the focus remains on the mystery of joy, Mary is unflinching in admitting the ambivalence. Can we focus on joy when so many are suffering? Is a focus on joy a privilege not available to all? These questions are addressed as she introduces us to 5 people who serve at the boundaries between those who are inside and outside, between those who are accepted and rejected.
The deep reflections on joy in all of it’s complexity drew me into a celebration of the types of service we provide as chaplains. The theological reflections are embedded throughout the book, with a lyrical and evocative voice. The poetic language and honest self reflection matches the content and the process; it is a joy to read. The alternation between theory and praxis grounds the abstract into the concrete and practical. These five people illustrate joy as they serve with gangs, with people in Haiti, with those who are oppressed and with the outcast. We are invited to experience a broader deeper definition of joy through the myriad ways of doing abundant and loving justice in a broken world. Instead of a focus on begrudging sacrifice or on an individualistic concept of personal happiness, the people here serve out of the overflow, out of the generous mystery and paradox of the mutuality of giving and receiving. As we read we are invited to expand our own awareness of our service as joy and to celebrate. This book is a much needed compliment to the many pastoral care works which develop and explore sadness, grief and suffering. We cannot chose one pole of human experience over the other; we live in the mystery.
Displaying 1 of 1 review