This Flowing Toward Me

by Marilyn Lacey, Helen Prejean (Foreword)

What began in 1979 as a response to a random bulletin board posting would ultimately change Sister Marilyn Lacey's life--and the lives of countless refugees. In vivid prose, Sister Lacey narrates her twenty-five year spiritual journey of work with those displaced by conflict and disaster. In the spirit of Dead Man Walking , she invites us to solidarity with some of the world's most vulnerable. Timely and engaging, This Flowing Toward Me offers fresh, personal insights into the world of refugees and international immigrants. More importantly, it stirs our hearts to remember the gospel mandate to welcome the stranger.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Faith, School, Spirituality, Memoir, Read For School

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2009

Reviews

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compassionate memoir about the plight of refugees and a Sister of Mercy that set out to help them.

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book pleasantly surprised me. it was required reading for my school religion class and i actually loved it. the stories were great, and now i'm motivated to apply as a volunteer for her organization. the religion part was not very prevalent until about the last chapter also.

[Patricia]

I knew almost nothing about refugees or refugee camps before reading this book. Lacey presents the world of refugees in brutal detail. Though the material is painful, she is not without humor, discussing her fear of bugs, especially spiders, and her cultural faux pas. She also imbues her particular religious slant as a Catholic nun with self-effacing candor. As a fan of G.K Chesterton, I was drawn to a summary reference she made to him, "Love wants to be with beloved. Love can't fix things, but love always knocks and comes right in to be with beloved in the midst of their suffering, even to the depths of hell." Lacey dosen't expect to fix things, but her willingness to be with others who are suffering is inspirational.

[Rosemarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ofc I've Mercy bias in loving this narrative, MCB being a second home to me as it was to so many world weary travelers before shuttering as a retreat center last yr. [Sigh of thanksgiving] Serendipitous learning years later I lived down the street from one of their outfits my last years in the Midwest -- their Spanish signage always eerily called me! Familiar & eye-opening, the groundedness, mirth & compassion that runs thru the pgs...

[Eisa985 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. Funny, inspiring, and challenging.
Written in 2009 it is still as relevant today as then. Refugees offer us the opportunity to “learn a new way of loving” as Sr. Marilyn relates through stories and her life experiences.
I highly recommend this book!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound. A beautiful testament of compassion in action.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to rate this book - the author is not a professional writer and so the writing isn't always a "page turner" and the stories jump around a bit. But the content is good, and the topic important. Plus, in parts the writing is quite inspired - the chapter "Stranger God" was very good (interesting, thought-provoking, lyrical). So a five for topic and relevance, a three for style (sometimes reaching higher)

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book filled with beautiful insites into how meeting God in the stranger can change you.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little read. Reminded me of what I do the work I do.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

not the best book I've ever read. i just met the author at school.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of a sister who works with refugee's. I found this book very moving and inspirational. I will read it again for the spiritual value it provided me.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

memoir of a nun who works with resettlement of international refugees