Fully Alive

The truth is that my recent years have been rather turbulent. From an upper limb amputation to dealing with two types of cancer to significant losses including a best friend, my brother, and my mother all within the past five years, I've realized in recent months just how much my mind, body, and soul are all incredibly tired.

Elizabeth Oldfield's "Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times" starts from the premise that in this world of turbulent change we need people who are resilient, kind, open, generous, and brave.

Oldfield also realizes that being such people can be difficult in this world. Rather uniquely, Oldfield uses the seven deadly sins (Can you name them?) as a framework to explore the journey toward tendering to our soul.

While "Fully Alive" is undeniably borne out of the Christian faith, Oldfield avoids a preachy approach in favor of a more conversational dialogue. As a popular podcaster, she takes that charismatic voice and brings it to life in print. She is funny, real, honest, intelligent, and accountable. "Fully Alive" feels like she's taking us on a journey she's taken herself. All too often, writers of faith can feel like they're trying to teach us lessons they haven't quite learned yet or that they're teaching out of a book knowledge that doesn't quite resonate.

Oldfield resonates.

How can we move from sloth to attention in order to make the most of our short lives?

Can we move from wrath to peacemaking? How do we become depolarizing people in this age of outrage, tribalism, and division?

What if we move from gluttony to awe?

For me, the most vibrant pieces here are centered around moving from pride to connection and independence to interdependence. How do we overcome the disconnection that keeps us from intimacy, community and, when it comes down to it, God?

Oldfield doesn't really utilize a theological approach here, though "Fully Alive" becomes more obviously theologically centered toward the end. However, her Christian faith is obvious throughout. She lives in an intentional community with her family in South London.

As someone who grew up in a more conservative home, I felt somewhat liberated by her embrace of the concept of sin - something we simply don't talk about as much anymore. It's something I've long embraced, however, it's fair to say from a less divisive perspective than I was taught in childhood. Like Oldfield, even in my most turbulent of times I embrace my faith and long for hardcore, genuine connections at home, at work, and most definitely in my church.

I'm not interested in being anything less than real.

"Fully Alive" offers a non-prescriptive journey toward spiritual strength that will support us when things fall apart. Oldfield writes with a quiet wisdom and relatable voice that often moved me and more often made me laugh. Oldfield's vulnerability made me feel safe and, indeed, "Fully Alive" brought me a little closer to being fully alive even in this time of turbulence.

I was initially drawn to this book from its tagline, “Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times”, but was immediately pulled in by the author’s introduction. I could FEEL the author’s words resonating in my very being; my restless/chaotic and never relenting constant ruminations of why the world seems more dissociative than ever, more isolating, and at times more alien than what humanity could be or better yet SHOULD BE.

As a person often riddled with anxiety over everything from the grand scheme of things to what-ifs and even the very mundane, I felt a strong connection to the author’s voice and often to her inner dialogue that she bravely shares with us. I admire that soul-deep honesty and wit; there’s nothing shallow or superfluous.

I found myself highlighting so much and so frequently that if this wasn’t an ebook, I would’ve run out of ink. Seriously. For that reason, I’m going to buy a physical copy so I can scribble in the margins about how often I could relate and make note of the insights that I want to ingrain in my soul, especially when I find myself becoming judgemental or erroneously fearful of the differences between “PLM and NLM” (<--I love that this automatic human nature about tribalism is simplified to these acronyms, because now I use them to quickly reset my brain when I realize I may be doing that). I truly found Oldfield’s writing to be so profound and at the same time vulnerable and convicting.

Her journey to and through a Christian life is also quite relatable to me and I don’t think this to be a book missed even if you are not a Christian. From this book, you are introduced to a real thinker; a modern day philosopher about our human condition that screams to the part of you that’s groaning for a better way forward, a better understanding of self in relation to others, a better sense of community and an honest-raw fellowship that can’t be found when we are trapped in the pretense of NLM thinking.

I don’t know the author, this person, this stranger across the pond, yet I find a kindred spirit in her writing and that’s not often the case. She managed to weave in theology to her findings and as a Christian, found this beautifully done. Often I find Christian books, especially those “geared to women” (<--which this book doesn’t claim to be anyway) very surface level, too “head in the cloud”, or so “shiny happy people” that I simply can’t relate, but here Oldfield deep dives (even into minefields) and I love it. I haven’t included quotes or favorite bits because that would take more time than I could write or you would want to read in a review. You will have to read this yourself and find that you will also run out of ink.

I highly recommend this book no matter your sex and no matter of your religious beliefs or lack thereof. If you ruminate on life in all its intricacies beautiful and sometimes tragic, you will find a treasure trove of philosophical gems here.

I did receive this ebook as an advanced copy from NetGalley and the publisher, but this is my own opinion and an honest review.

In the time of turbulence in my life, I still remember that I feel so lonely and I cannot see hope in my situation. Whenever I look for someone to encourage me, I cannot find even one person that can understand me. Now, after I overcome that time, I really want to be a hand for people in affliction, to show that they are loved. Thank you Elizabeth for this book.

Goodness, this is such an incredibly helpful, honest, practical book. I wish the chapter on gluttony had been framed differently and with greater acknowledgment of the breadth of gluttony such that it involves the consumption of resources to the detriment of others and that the many factors that lead to obesity were not conflated and flattened to simple over-eating. But outside of that, I am very grateful for the clarity and straightforward vulnerability of Oldfield's writing. Even with the caveat, I'll be recommending this book.

What happens when you mess up? Is life over if you've made bad choices or when you continue to fail? This hopeful story - told with humor and personal examples - is an encouragement to seek help daily as you continue your journey.

You'll find advice on prospering even when you're not perfect. You'll be compelled to become your best self, who God intended you to be, with God's help. Oldfield shows how to manage and overcome personal and external challenges with the help of faith and discipleship.

Highly recommended if you're in a season of conflict or confusion.

I enjoyed this book, which looks into how to fully live our lives using the themes of the seven deadly sins. I found the writing to be accessible and compelling and was impressed with how much the author was willing to share her life and struggles. The book was written in such a way that the truth of the gospel is taught but not always in an outwardly religious way which might make it easier for a non-believer to engage with the subject. I found some of the ideas of the author to be in line with where I have been trying to make changes in my life and look forward to utilizing some of the ideas included.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

An accurate synopsis would be, in the author's own words, "This book is designed for those in search of spiritual core strength and curious about what the practices, postures and principles of Christianity might have to teach them." (Chapter: The G Bomb)

Personally, I felt that this book was about using the principles of Christianity and other belief systems to be a better person moreso than a self help book about becoming more Fully Alive in your Christian faith.

Positives:

This book made me think. A lot. It addressed everything from identifying triggers to pornography to neuroscience. Liz, as the author refers to herself in the text, offers lessons she has learned in her own life as ways to live a more meaningful life. I dig that.

Liz gives very good explanations for why she embraces Christianity that are sure not to offend literally anyone.

Negatives:

The tone of the book when it comes to God is almost apologetic. Repeatedly putting the word [God] in brackets is not only distracting, it's disrespectful. Or so it seems to me.

Liz explains very well why she embraces Christianity but seems to put it on par with other faith traditions. Not once does she mention that Jesus said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." Jn. 14:6

The book is littered with spelling bee words; why use a few little words when one big word will do. It feels like showing off to me. A thesaurus would be a good companion book.

Climate anxiety is a recurring theme. I'm not sure how to even address it. If someone is this stressed out about their perceived expectation that we're destroying the planet, maybe they aren't ready to write a book about living life to the fullest. Just a thought.

The chapter on Liz's sexual history including childhood masterbation was a little over the top. Good for her, but TMI is an understatement. She made it clear that she's not a prude, but some of that chapter was disturbingly cringe worthy. Maybe save it for a book on sex and Christianity rather than a book on living a more full life. I almost quit reading.

It will be interesting to know if the communal living Liz and her family have embarked on stands the test of time. I find great benefits to committing to our church but find the idea of buying a house with and living with another couple/family is just asking for drama, no matter how well you think you've vetted the people you're getting in bed with.

All in all, I would not recommend this book. To anyone. It's just plain weird.

Thanks to Netgalley and Baker Academic & Brazos Press for providing a free e-ARC for my review. All opinions are my own.