Eighth Day of Creation

by Elizabeth O'Connor (Foreword)

The exercises and meditative materials that make up this unusual book are designed specifically to help you identify your God-given gifts and to encourage you to use those gifts creatively in the world. Read EIGHTH DAY OF CREATION in one sitting or study it a little at a time, over a period of weeks, letting the words of great writers and thinkers stimulate your own thoughts and prayers. Once you've read it, you'll find yourself returning to it again and again for insight and encouragement as you continue the exciting process of becoming all God created you to be.

Genres: Spirituality

120 pages, Paperback

First published April 16, 1973

About the author

Elizabeth O'Connor worked for the ecumenical Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C. since 1953 and directed its residence and support group for elderly low-income persons.

Miss O'Connor wrote a number of books about church renewal and community service. The first was "Call to Commitment," describing the founding and development of Church of the Savior, which works toward racial integration through small groups.

Miss O'Connor began and facilitated the Compassion Group counseling program at the church, where she was also a lay leader, a teacher and a workshop leader.

She was founder in 1983 of Sarah's Circle, a program for the elderly in Adams-Morgan. The residential facility has 34 apartments and a community center serving 200 people. Miss O'Connor originated the idea and raised money for the facilities. Miss O'Connor was born in New Jersey and raised in the Bronx, N.Y. She attended New York University and the New School for Social Research. She did publicity work for the company that produced "America's Town Meeting of the Air" for radio and worked for the American Bankers Association before moving to Washington in 1949.

Miss O'Connor, who was a public speaker and leader of retreats, was given an honorary doctorate from Virginia Theological Seminary.

Reviews

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading this very short book, though I doubt it is the last time I'll open it. I turned down corners on more pages than not, I think. There is a lot of food for thought in here. Rather than reading like a narrative or even something meant to read cover-to-cover, this book is a collection of thoughts and meditations on discovering and living out your unique gifts. Some of the passages are the author's own, but many of them are excerpted from other famous authors and works (both religious and not). While this might seem on the surface like a self-helpy/spirituality "lite" kind of topic, the book addresses it in a deep and serious way. I'll definitely come back to my dog-eared pages in the future.

[Betsy Schwarzentraub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-reading this thoughtful book from long ago was a delight! And maybe even more applicable to life these days. As the subtitle says, it’s about gifts and creativity. But it doesn’t focus on what people might call the “special” gifts, of a famous artist or a great singer, for example. It’s about following one’s individual passion in daily life, exercising our creativity in the world in response to the unique imprint God has given to each of us. The act of creation is a solitary gift, prompting us to grow toward wholeness, it says. When we each use that gift, it confirms our “silent self” before God and in our community.

I resonated with the statement that when we love doing something, we feel inwardly rich and are exercising the uniqueness God gave us. At the same time, we can look to God as the source of every event and every gift given to us or to others. We can risk the vulnerability of identifying new gifts from God at any point in our lives.

This book includes two Exercise sections, which focus on identifying and using our gifts, respectively. After an introduction in each, O’Connor quotes thought-provoking reflections from a wide range of historical thinkers. There’s plenty to ponder here, encouraging us to identify, explore and use our own gifts as we affirm the gifts of others.

[Ali Hysong · Rating 4 out of 5]

God gave me 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason. Listen.

Good little thinking book.

[Michael Medlen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically just the reworking of the Eepistles Apostle Paul..

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

O'Connor writes about stepping into one's gifts and the challenges that go with identifying where and how to use said talent - O'Connor talks deeply about naming, affirming/ordaining gifts, especially in churches, and also talks frankly about envy and jealousy and maybe a little impostor syndrome, and how bringing these vices to LIGHT (within healthy boundaries, in safe spaces) can release us to fully step into the gifts God has given us.

This book would be great for devour-readers like me, but it's also a nice book to pick up every once in awhile. There's a lot to think about, and O'Connor's approach is delightfully sneaky - we're talking about gifts and then BAM, we're talking about the hard parts of having a gift like arrogance and envy and wanting to promote ourselves over helping call out others. The flip is so subtle, but it's there. The book also has some exercises in the back that I haven't done yet, but hope to do!

I started this book when I was in my early 20s, and I wish I had finished it then! It would've been really helpful to combat all the envy I have dealt with in my creative endeavors. I'm glad I finally finished it.

Recommended - especially recommended to creatives.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for thinking about our gifts and how they are part of community.

[Sheba]

It's been a while. Still have my 1st edition ... bought used in the 80s, I think. So I shall re-read!