Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed

My very favorite kinds of books are those that leave me in tears one moment and cause me to laugh aloud the next. Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Glennon Doyle Melton is definitely one of those books.In this collection of essays, Glennon, the creator of Momastery, encourages people to share their "secret selves" with others because "some people will want and need to hear about your secret self as badly as they need to inhale. Because reading your truth will make them less afraid of their own secret selves" and because "telling your truth will make you less afraid too."Throughout the book, I appreciated the way in which Glennon modeled this sharing of her secret self with her readers, bravely tackling tough issues like addictions and eating disorders and doing so with a great deal of humor, wisdom, and poise. In a stunning display of courage, Glennon even tackles the divisive subject of abortion in her essay, Hard. She openly shares her own experience with abortion and then concludes, in what might just be my favorite line in this entire book, "I don't feel ashamed. I feel forgiven and whole, and I know that God never let go of my hand before, during or after my abortion. God and I are clear on that issue."It's honestly difficult to choose a favorite essay from a book as open and honest as this one. How can you really critique someone's art, the vehicle Glennon describes as God's way of offering a "safe way to express both joy and madness"?Even so, as a youth worker, two essays particularly captivated both my heart and imagination. Glennon's essay, On Gifts and Talents, challenged me to think deeply about the way in which I teach spiritual gifts. According to Glennon, "We have to actually believe that our kids are OK. We can start believing by erasing the idea that education is a race. It's not. Education is like Christmas. We're all just opening our gifts, one at a time. It is a fact that each and every child has a bright shiny present with her name on it, waiting there underneath the tree. God wrapped it up, and he'll let us know when it's time to unwrap it." As a youth worker, I pray I can be someone who helps teenagers unwrap the gifts with their names on them and discover how they might use those gifts - whatever they are - to serve and honor God.Room for One More is one of the best essays on the church I've read in a very long time. In it, Glennon reflects on her reluctance to engage with a church community before concluding "We know that any faith worth a damn is a faith worked out over a lifetime of relationships with other people. Church is just a commitment to try to live a life of a certain quality - a life of love, of humility, of service - alongside others for whom you will care and allow to care for you, even when that's difficult." In a day and age when people's perception of the church is increasingly far more negative than positive, as a youth worker, I hope that by the time my students graduate from my ministry they know and have intimately experienced the kind of church Glennon writes about.No doubt, Glennon's is a book worth reading. It's one that invites you into the pages of her life, entrusting you with the kinds of stories that most save for their closest friends. As she does, you begin to understand that indeed, life may be "brutiful", but it's through "paralyzing pain and impossibility" that we realize there really is "something True about Jesus."

I discovered Glennon's blog when the "Don't Carpe Diem" post went viral a few years ago. It was EXACTLY. EXACTLY. What I needed to hear when I was knee deep in tiny children. I instantly went to her blog and didn't stop read every little thing she had ever written until my head almost fell off from all the nodding in agreement and my ass almost fell off from laughing. True story. Glennon brings a voice of compassion to the world. She tells truth we need to hear with humility and humor and a huge dose of love. She beautifully and artistically distills situations to their loving essence. She says everything I want to say only so much better. She brings women together in a way that could change the world. (I can't help but think Jesus would be a "man"kee, too.)Her single concept of Don't Carpe Diem changed my mothering. I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself, and it was so liberating to know that I didn't have to enjoy every single second to be doing a good job as a mom. So now I think of my "kairos" moments every day, and I have let go of the rest. I am so much more peaceful and satisfied, I'm a happier mommy, a happier wife, a happier friend, and the joy spills over to share. I have bought this book in both the hardcover and paperpack and shared it over and over. One of my favorite parts is actually in the paperback afterword, about the worthy forces on women and what a blessing they are and how to have balance by strengthening them. That concept could be a book in itself, and is something I think of and turn to and share with others often. I can't help but think of the ripple effect that Glennon has had on our generation of parents. MORE compassion? MORE understanding? MORE joy? MORE love? I am so proud to be a Monkee. Read this book and join the reLOVEution.

I love Glennon's approach to life, her spirituality that is grounded in reality, and the way she shares her struggles, highs, lows, ups and downs with a funny yet, profoundly poignant message - we can do hard things. This is my new motto and one I plan to pass on to my young boys. Life is brutiful - equal parts beautiful and brutal and when you can appreciate and see it as both, you can fully immerse yourself in the human experience and know that sometimes, being a person, being a parent is hard, not because you are doing it wrong but because it is just hard. We all belong to each other and this book does a wonderful job of helping you believe in the power of kindness, not only to others, but to yourself. Many critics will say that she complains too much, or that she doesn't appreciate what she has - but I see her writing as just the opposite. It is real. It is honest. It is filled with lessons and observations and words of wisdom as well as questions. Questions that make you think, about what you believe, about God, about life, about love, about relationships, about spirituality, acceptance and more. Her book challenges you to think of these things differently and maybe not as you've "always done" but if you're brave enough to go there, to see the world through the eyes of a recovering, broken person (who I myself cannot relate to, yet can fully connect with the amazing things she has learned), you will begin to see things with a kinder heart and learn more about what it means to be a spiritual being, having a human experience on this place, just like everyone else.

Great book. Good little nuggets of info. Loved this book but highly recommend Untamed by Glennon Doyle.

I read this book and then bought another for a friend, and read her next book! Love the brutal honesty, was a very uplifting book.

I‘ve been a long time fan of Glennon‘s but had not yet read Carry On, Warrior. I am again in awe of the wisdom, clarity of thought and expression and inclusiveness of her writing!Thank you for sharing and making us all think about ourselves, accept ourselves more and paving the way for us to tap into our own wisdom!

Ya había leído libros de Glennon y cada vez me gusta más. Inspiradora, poderosa, divertida.

Glennon is a wonderful writer. Her ability to share and describe raw emotions is second to none. Her story of truth and struggle is honest and captivating. I have 3 of her books, I read in no particular order and they are still brilliant. Her quotes of inspiration are the perfect pick me up. Highly recommend this read, she makes you believe anything is possible.

en general no conocia a glennon, la escuche en una conferencia ted y me dio curiosidad, este libro es muy readable, facil de leer y comprender y te hace conectar con el escritor, lo recomiendo mucho ademas llego super rapido