Fear: A Spiritual Navigation

How many Christians are willing to admit that they've been scared enough to pray for God to save their souls again, "just in case"? Jo Kadlecek is. In her memoir Fear: a Spiritual Navigation, she isn't afraid to "go there," exploring some dark moments she's had over the years. Kadlecek owns up to times she's been angry or felt prejudice, but in a light, relatable voice. In sharing stories from her childhood, early and middle adult years, Kadlecek invites the reader along on her spiritual journey. The chronology isn't set in stone, allowing her to weave in and out of memories; this makes the memoir feel a bit like a stream of consciousness, but each story fits the overall theme. Fans of travel writing will enjoy reading about Kadlecek's experience as a suburban Colorado transplant in New York City, as well as her trips around the globe, from Ireland to Australia. Other highlights are narratives on her fear of water and lessons learned from near-death experiences. Kadlecek's honest and entertaining voice is the best aspect of the memoir. The reader is with her the first time she swims in the deep end of her local swimming pool and stays with her as she navigates around her fear, observing her pitfalls and triumphs along the way. Living in fear, Kadlecek writes, is "sort of like jumping into the sea though your stomach is as jittery as the boat, and you call on God out of sheer absolute desperation though you feel anything but spiritual." As the reader dives in with Kadlecek, he can prepare to explore the depths of fear in his own life. Kadlecek jumps in zestfully, "like a child who's always wanted to swim [but] wasn't allowed to before now."

I found "Fear, a spiritual navitgation" to be an honest and at times, a stirring comentary on the author's collective social, emotional, physical and spiritual struggle from her suburban context as a transplant from the midwest to the Big Apple. It is worth reading if for nothing else for the soul stirring quotes ("There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside you."-- Zora Neal Hurston). Her ability to elicit visual images is quite effective. I liked the fact that the author chose not to 'overwrite' her experiences and left the majority of the interpretation of her journey to the reader. I did not like the numerous references to being 'middle-aged' (early 40's isn't middle-aged anymore!!!) Certain portions also tended to contrive spirituality when it would have been better simply to let the experience speak for itself. While not fascinating, the book moved me as a African-American on my own pilgrimage for Truth. You go Jo!