I feel like I must start first with the cover. What a beautiful, clever design that not only stops me in my tracks but also makes me want to learn more.

Marlena's perspective is one we need, and her voice and writing matter. Though I don't know her personally, she offers a viewpoint that, quite frankly, doesn't seem to be published in the circles this title is now going around in.

I do feel that the manuscript could have 1) used more editing and 2) used more time. It's on the short side for a nonfiction book of this genre, and I wish Marlena would have written more. Additionally, there were multiple portions of the book that didn't seem to fit and left me wondering how they would tie in (if they did, I missed it).

Over all, though, I appreciate the conviction she clear has. It's evident in the writing of The Way Up Is Down.

(I highly suggest reading other reviews to better understand the book... the description given on retailers definitely doesn't feel like a fit. It's very poor in that it's unhelpful and doesn't give due justice to what the book is about.)

Summary: An exploration of Kenosis, voluntary self-emptying, a renunciation of my will in favor of God’s.

Kenosis has a long history. Biblically it is rooted in Philippians 2 with Jesus ‘giving up’ his divine being and ‘adopting’ a human form. The language has always been challenging because it is inadequate to represent what is going on fully. Jesus did not cease to be divine when he became human. And the adoption metaphor has weaknesses because there is history with its use as a means of denying that Jesus was entirely God, or that he was created not eternal. But despite the inadequacy of the language around Kenosis, the concepts underneath it, are important. Jesus’ prayer, ‘not my will, but yours be done’ was not a denial of his divinity but the fulfillment of it. If Jesus could empty himself of his will in a biblically appropriate way, then we, as fully created, should also think about how we appropriately give up our own will.

Part of the problem of discussing Kenosis isn’t just the inadequacy of the language, but the history of abuse. Kenosis has been used to justify abuse and oppression throughout Christian history. It has been used to tell slaves to submit to masters, or to perpetuate economic or cultural inequity. It has been used to support gnostic leaning beliefs around the sinfulness of the body or patriarchal attitudes toward women. It has been used to deny people the rights of justice in regard to sexual and other forms of abuse inside the church.

It is in part because of this misuse of the concept that I am reluctant to read white males talk about Kenosis, and why despite a bit of reluctance to initially pick up The Way Up Is Down, it is important that this book is written by a Puerto Rican woman. As I have said frequently, I am midway through my training to become a Spiritual Director. The literature of spiritual direction and spiritual formation is overwhelmingly from a White male perspective. Most of my non-assigned reading has been an attempt to make up for the weaknesses of my assigned reading. Marlena Graves is a pastor and professor of spiritual formation. She is not a spiritual director as far as I am aware (it is not explicitly mentioned in the book that I remember), but the type of spiritual wisdom that is throughout the book is in that vein.

The history of Christianity is replete with language that invokes Kenosis. Christianity’s spiritual writers are continually talking about “offering ourselves out of love for God, others and creation” and the tension of “[not wanting] to do what God calls us to do.” Marlena Graves’ quote from Stephen Freeman, an Eastern Orthodox priest, gets at this as well:

If we are to be transformed ‘from one degree of glory to another’ then it it is toward the ‘glory’ of the crucified, self-emptying Christ that we are beign transformed…[F]or there is no other kind of life revealed to us in Christ.”

The history of Christianity is covered to show that resistance to Kenosis isn’t new. But also that we have particular problems with giving up our will in our current individualistic, consumeristic, utilitarian, power-rich, world. The problems of showing, not just talking about or praying for, tangible justice is important. And engaging those who have previously called us toward service and visible justice can help remind us of why that is important. In a discussion of Frederick Douglass, Graves says:

“Christianity lived out in mental abstraction, in our heads alone, isn’t Christianity. Douglass nailed it when he declared, “I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hate the corrupt, slave-holding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason but the most deceitful one for calling the religion of this land Christianity.”

Much of the book is about the way that spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, repentance, attention to the oppressed, remembering the shortness of life (memento mori), etc, are essential to the Christian life and the tension of Kenosis. Like many books of spiritual wisdom, the importance of the book is not in its originality, but in its calling the reader back to the historical wisdom of the church that has always affirmed. We do, however, need to continually process how these historic beliefs and practices related to the modern world and so well written books like this will always be required to refocus us back again to the issues of first importance.

The title The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself caught my attention on Twitter and sounded interesting. In 10 chapters, author Marlena Graves digs into the Bible and spirituality and particularly focuses on kenosis or voluntary self-emptying. She returns to this word and concept throughout the book and spends a most of the first chapter unpacking its meaning.

While reading this book, I enjoyed Graves' honesty and openness. She does not hesitate to share stories from her own life. I felt almost like I was reading someone's journal as you are allowed to experience raw anger and grief alongside the author as well as joy. However, she quickly moves to share biblical and spiritual truths that arose from those moments. Graves also pulls in examples from other lives to illustrate her points. I found this is not a book to read quickly. It needs to be savored and thought about in order to truly grasp and apply the concepts presented. Reading the book in community with others would provide opportunity to discuss and apply these truths.

I received a complementary copy from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I am not required to provide a positive review.

The author is determined to live like Jesus. Her stories are inspiring. I especially liked her personal narrative about church; ministering and working and learning among the marginalized. Jesus wants to equalize our communities. Perhaps only he can. Good use of Scripture, story and references.

This is a very timely book from the perspective that so much of what we see in the modern church is to promote ourselves and make ourselves prominent for whatever reason, to sell books, music, number of followers, etc. Further, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced all of us into a season of wilderness where so much has been taken away from us and we're being given an opportunity to seek more of Jesus. And then there's all the issues of prejudice and race that have risen to the surface forcing each one of us to take a long hard look at our ourselves and the muck we might or might not have in our hearts.

Marlena Graves isn't from a megachurch and is Puerto Rican so has a great perspective on justice and prejudice within both the church and society. In this book, Graves seeks to demonstrate our need to let go of our own agendas, like Jesus did, and uses the Biblical term kenosis throughout to describe this lifestyle of self-emptying and reliance upon God. And for the most part she does a really good job of articling the why's and the how's of doing this with lots of good references to both the Bible and to lesser known mystics in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

I particularly appreciated the chapter on Repentance ("Daily Returning Home") and it's criticality to this lifestyle of self-emptying. As Graves points out: "In repentance I turn my face back and lock eyes with Jesus. I stop looking at myself and others. My life then moves in the direction of my gaze. Toward Jesus." This chapter alone makes the book worth reading.

But some of the chapters in the second half of the book I found less useful and also felt at times there was a tough tone being used in referring to some of the church culture which grated a little on me for some reason.

Overall, it puts forward a good roadmap for discovering a self-emptying lifestyle without delivering the complete picture.

The Way Up Is Down
Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself
by Marlena Graves

InterVarsity Press

InterVarsity Press

IVP
Christian
Pub Date 14 Jul 2020





I am reviewing a copy of The Way Up is Down through InterVarsity Press and Netgalley:




In The Way Up Is Down Marlena Graves describes the process of emptying herself in order to become closer to God. She draws on the rich traditions of Eastern and Western Christian saints.





Marlena Graves describes her daily and desperate need for a relationship with him as a physical hunger.




Marlena shares stories and insights that have enlivened her transformation. For Marlena, formation and justice always intertwine on the path to a balanced life of both action and contemplation. If you long for more of God, this book offers a time-honored path to deeper life.




I give The Way Up is Down five out of five stars!




Happy Reading!

The absolute beauty of this book is IVP published a book talking about humility from someone NOT a megachurch pastor and coming from the perspective of a person of color. Marlena brings all the grit and reality of her upbringing, her imperfections, and her anxieties to this work and shows that "having it all together" is not the only time one needs humbling.

Graves also shows that one need not be "sitting well" economically to truly be a giver. She gives heart-felt stories of those who have given out of their poverty to help others along.

The one story that meant the most to me came from "The Great Divorce." It was the story of Sarah Smith of Golders Green. This story sent me into tears as the Holy Spirit worked on me yet again about this word: OBSCURITY. I want "fame." I want to be "noticed." I want to feel like my life "counted", but that really means someone I admire noticed me.

The lesson taught in "The Great Divorce" is there are two kinds of fame. The fame of the Kingdom of God is quite different than the fame sought on earth. So, while heaven was applauding Sarah Smith of Golders Green, the observers from earth had no idea who she was! Sarah was famous in the eyes of God and with those who have eyes to see.

This book is deeply moving spiritually and practically. The author challenges us with very practical issues of our day. Politics. Immigration. The poor. What are we doing to keep our focus on "the least of these"?

This is a touching book worth holding on to and visiting on a regular basis.