I hope you have noticed announcements in Crossings for a new adult education opportunity this year. Reading with Deeper Eyes is a reading group at the Chapel of the Cross, that meets the first Thursday of each month from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the parlor.

Nancy Tunnessen had been part of a book club at another church and knew of others interested in forming a group at the Chapel of the Cross. She discovered a book, Reading with Deeper Eyes, by William H. Willimon, Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University. Willimon recommends a selection of readings and analyzes each one. He describes his book as "my attempt to share my love for and debt to the writing of others in my own struggling discipleship." Nancy felt the Willimon text was perfect for starting a book group and giving it structure.

Literature is one of my passions, and I was intrigued when I learned that the group's first reading was The Odyssey. Although I had read The Odyssey before, I had never done so in a spiritual context.

I have since attended each monthly meeting and benefited from the readings, and discussions, and from meeting new people. We have had guest speakers who generously supplied their expertise and insight to the group. David Jamieson-Drake facilitated our discussion of The Book of Job, tackling such questions as "Why do we love God?", "Is God just?", and "What is our place in God's world?"

Vince Kopp, a noted Walker Percy scholar, led our discussion of Love in the Ruins.I left that meeting pondering concepts like the impact of language on our lives and striving for and achieving personal salvation in a complex and troubled world.

I welcome the challenge of exploring answers to difficult, vital questions, and I am grateful that the book group has provided me with the chance to embark on a personal odyssey: exploring my spirituality. All of the readings share common themes, like struggling to maintain one's faith through the pressures of daily life, tragedy, and loss. By reading and trying to comprehend how fictional characters face complicated and painful decisions, I relate their experiences to my life and realize how much work it takes to be a good human being and faithful Christian.

This group has taught me that, by sharing ideas and keeping an open mind, it is possible to find the strength to accomplish these goals.I must continue reading with deeper eyes beyond the surface to find truths about myself in relation to God's world. I always believed I could find God in anything if I looked hard enough. The Reading with Deeper Eyes book group is no exception. It has enriched my spiritual life, and I believe it can enrich yours. If you would like to join us, our next meeting is Thursday, May 1, to discuss Saint Maybe, by Anne Tyler. If you do not have time to finish the book, you are still welcome to come listen with deeper ears.

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