Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Amazon Lin Wilder Category:  Spirituality Publisher: Clear Space ISBN-10:  1475275013 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 68 Copyright: Mar 13, 2012 ISBN-13: 9781475275018 Price: $3.99 (eBook) Although I majored in English literature for my undergraduate degree, poetry eluded me; decoding Eliot’s esoteric messages was an impossible task without my friend Margaret as translator. Many years later my friend Libby gave me a stunning leather bound journal along with a copy of Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Weinberg to take with me on my trip to Greece; a trip I had not expected to take alone. To my great surprise, I began to write poetry. And only then did I see why I could not understand the language of poetry all those years ago. Poetry is the language of the heart; to be written or even to be understood, the heart must be made raw, it must bleed; The journey home began with a telephone conversation with a stranger. Early in that conversation, he asked what I was looking for and I answered, “ a sacred place”, explaining that I had been to Kyoto, to Delphi, searching for something, I wasn’t sure what. And the man who became my husband told me about St. Benedict’s Abbey, in Harvard Massachusetts. But how can one acknowledge with gratitude all the souls placed in her path, all those who were filled with light and graced heryes, even for those who deeply wounded her? Perhaps it is enough to trust that each person, each choice-even the most painful, beckons. Suzanne Fyhrie Parrott, your interpretation of A Search for the Sacred has transformed my words into Something Much More-I applaud your insight and your heart. Excerpt October 1994 It is nearing the end of another Sunday Another Sunday with you by my side Busily putting up our sodden camping gear Changing oil in the truck with man hands It’s five o’clock on another Sunday Where you have weed -eaten the lawn Stolen an hour in the fall sunshine Where we’ve been alone together It’s nearly five o’clock on another Sunday Which I approach with such dread and loss It’s worse in the Texas fall a stark shock Reminding me of how few are these precious days I want to demand the clock turn back to two Or even better ten or maybe even nine These sacred special Sundays filled with You and me alone together, how many have we left?

Exquisite Writing
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MRC
5.0 out of 5 starsEvolving Search
May 25, 2012
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
This collection of poems is both candid and poignant. As a reader, I had the sense of being a fellow passenger on the author's journey and could immediately identify with her evolving search for meaning and peace.

The poem Talos at the beginning of the second section seems to be a pivotal point in the author's self awareness. With the backdrop of ancient Greece, we see various facets of her personal exploration of both pain and joy. All of this is perfectly summarized in the poem Rebirth toward the end of this section.

The third section contains one of my favorite poems of the collection--St. Benedict's Abby. This poem assures us of her beginning steps, now on the right path, and the subsequesnt poems continue to uplift and inspire. The prose section on the death of her dog seems a footnote to remind us that there are still low points along the way, but even these are treasured experiences in seeking the sacred purpose of our life.

Reading A Search for the Sacred was truly a gift and simply received with pure joy. It will become a valued book in my collection.
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Almita
5.0 out of 5 starsInspiring and from the heart
March 19, 2012
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
In "A Search for the Sacred", Lin Wilder clearly and powerfully presents an ongoing struggle- at times anguish- as she permits her reader access to a period of her life rife with loss, sorrow and grief. It is clear that many of the poems in her first section, "Texas", were written about very personal events in her life; and yet I found myself identifying with the words and the emotions evoked by Wilder's writing. Although I have never been to Texas or to Greece, she describes experiences I have lived. I also appreciated the openness and honesty of these poems, for in that I felt privy to her most personal and private thoughts and struggles in her search for the Sacred.

There are a couple of surprises in the book- the author includes several pages of prose in the last section, "The Journey Home". And one of the essays is about the death of her dog, I am not sure why the author chose to include this piece in her book but it is excellent reading, particularly for those of us who know the depth of the love between a woman and her dog.

Of all of her poems, I particularly loved, "Rebirth" and "9th Christmas 2005".
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ninamontana
5.0 out of 5 starsExquisite writing
May 20, 2012
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Lin Wilder's book of poetry is an account of her journey of search and discovery. Her poetry covers a myriad of subjects and is amazingly self-revealing as she takes the reader into intimately personal moments of a love affair. Wilder will strike a chord with women everywhere as she raises you to the heights of ecstasy and plunges you to the depths of her despair.

The Search for the Sacred, written over a period of several years, chronicles her life as she realizes that pain is a necessary ingredient in her journey which guides her in her search for and ultimate discovery of her love for God.

Wilder's Notes to the Reader at the beginning of the book is am exquisite piece of writing in itself and individual poems will speak to you long after you have put the book down. For instance I was surprised to find how envious I was after reading her poem about Sunday morning. Here is an excerpt from that short but beautiful poem:

I want to demand the clock turn back to two
Or even better ten or maybe even nine
Those sacred special Sundays filled with
You and me alone together, how many have we left

Poetry is not normally my strong suit, but I thoroughly enjoyed Lin Wilder's book.

A Courageous Heart and Gifted Words
he poet is gifted not only in writing talent but in being willing to expose the pain and joy of her spiritual journey. Being fortunate enough to know a little of that journey, I can heartily recommend her works. She has recent had her first novel published so a new facet of her talent is now available for our enjoyment.

A Gift from the Heart
I had not read poetry in some time and approached this work wondering how I would respond. I was stunned, moved by the raw honesty, integrity and beauty of what I read, identifying with some of it and deeply appreciating all of the selections. I felt I was given a gift from the heart of a dear friend. It touched my soul.