Kathleen Long Bostrom

Nice article on "99 Things" - read and share!

Greetings, friends!

Check out the nice article on my book - feel free to share it with your family and friends!

I'll be at the Association of Presbyterian Church Educator's annual conference in Nashville the end of January. I'll speak at the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, January 29, and will sign books in the evening. Stop by and say hello! Let me know how you've used the book and what you've enjoyed.

Hope to hear from some of my readers soon!
Blessings all,
Kathy

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COMMENTARY: A bucket list for believers

Cecile S. Holmes, Nov 27, 2009

WARNER BROS. PICTURES PHOTO Carter, played by Morgan Freeman in the movie The Bucket List, inspired columnist Cecile Holmes to consider her own wish list.

By Cecile S. Holmes
Religion News Service

Morgan Freeman, per my usual reaction, won my heart in the early stages of the film, The Bucket List. He was just too darn decent to be terminally ill. I felt something like you feel when you learn your closest friend has cancer. Horror. Disbelief. Then Mr. Freeman met Jack Nicholson and together they tackled a list of must-do’s before death. 

I laughed and cried in that film. And I started my own bucket list. 

It simply made sense. Setting goals is important, no matter one’s age. 

But living life to the fullest and deciding what you cannot live without seeing, doing or being, matters more. A wise Roman Catholic nun once told me the best way to evaluate potential experiences, career changes, even romantic prospects, was to ask a simple question: Is it life-giving? 

The recommendations in the new book 99 Things to Do Between Here and Heaven (Westminster John Knox Press, 2009) fairly rustle with life. The suggestions range from the simple—“forgive a wrong”—to the more complex—“write a letter to your future self.” In recent years I’ve seen so many how-to books on journaling, spiritual scrap-booking, making a home altar, etc., that sometimes I’m jaded about new books and articles with similar themes. So I was skeptical at this newest one. 

But the authors’—Kathleen Long Bostrom and Peter Graystone—take on what we cannot do without doing during our brief lifespan on this planet made me pause. Their book reminded me of my late father’s words just a few weeks before the end of his life as I struggled to tell him how much he meant to me and how much his death would undo me. He didn’t want to talk about dying, though he thanked me for telling him how much I loved him and how important his presence, guidance and support had meant. 

“My dear, thank you,” he said, “but I want to get well. There are still so many things I want to do.” 

In contrast, I’ve become almost as intent on being as doing. The pleasant surprise in 99 Things is that there’s wisdom in its pages for both the contemplative and the activist. The book suggests learning sign language (No. 37) and helping people register to vote (No. 48), but also buying nothing for a day (No. 66) and lighting a candle (No. 17). In fact, this is the sort of book that could be given to people aged 8 to 80 because it is replete with reminders that we truly can find the remarkable in the everyday. A few of the suggestions seem banal at first, but the authors expound enough on what they’re proposing to appease more thoughtful readers. 

For example, activity No. 1 is “Watch the sun rise.” Yeah, sure, go enjoy nature. That’s perceptive and original, I groused. Then I looked at that first entry again. While it does urge one to find a lovely spot to view a sunrise, it goes a lot farther, suggesting a hilltop view overlooking a city as a good spot. And it notes that Christians have gathered on hilltops early on Easter Sunday since the mid-18th century to praise “the risen Jesus.” Should the sunrise you see be particularly amazing, 99 Things offers scientific explanation in addition to crediting God, the Creator. 

“The spectacular colors are due to an effect called Rayleigh scattering,” the authors state. “Particles in our atmosphere cause the light of the sun, which is constantly white, to split into its component colors. The most common particles, oxygen and nitrogen, cause the light to be scattered at the frequency that we observe as being the blue spectrum.” At sunrise, the distance light travels to the human eye is greater than at other times of the day, so the blue light is more scattered and more from the red and the orange ends of the spectrum can be seen. 

So seeing a sunrise, with this book as guide, could be not only inspirational but enlightening. Other entries continue in a similar vein, offering insight into what the reader may gain and how much time each step may take. There’s also the requisite blank space with each entry to record a few memories. 

First published in England by Mr. Graystone, the book was adapted for a North American audience by Ms. Bostrom, a writer and Presbyterian clergywoman. 

Its worthiness lies not in its format, but in its title. For it reminds us that our days, while numbered, are only as limited as we allow them to be.

Ms. Holmes, a longtime religion writer, is an associate professor of journalism at the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

99 Things featured in recent newspaper article

Check this out! The local paper ran a nice article on my book right before Christmas. I've pasted the text in this blog, or you can check out the full article and photo at http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=345834.

If any of my readers post a positive recommendation for the book on Amazon.com, I will enter your name in my own raffle for my upcoming book, Making Space for the Spirit: 100 Simple Ways to Nurture Your Soul. Just send me an e-mail via this blog and let me know you've posted some feedback.

Happy New Year, everyone!
Here's the article:

What are your resolutions for 2010?

Sure, you want to get fit. Who doesn't? Your finances might need a makeover too. Those goals are obvious and perennial. But author Kathy Bostrom wants you to think past the predictable and shake things up.

How about joining a protest rally? Have you ever danced in the rain? This year, milk a cow or bury a time capsule. Take your possessions, sell them at a flea market and give the money to charity. Clear your cupboards, go skinny dipping, plan your funeral.

The Wildwood woman has ideas designed to enrich your life and the lives of others in her new book, "99 Things to do Between Here and Heaven." The 200-page book published this year, offers simple and complex ideas for a more significant life.

"So many of us want to do something different, something challenging with our lives and often don't know what to do," Bostrom said. "These ideas get us out of our boxes."

Bostrom co-authored the book with Peter Graystone. This is the 28th book penned by the 55-year-old mother of three. She and her husband Greg are co-pastors of the Wildwood Presbyterian Church.

Most of her books are faith-based children's stories. The new book is part one of an upcoming series of other "99" titles, including ideas to simplify your life, and how to raise spiritually healthy kids.

Bostrom admits some of the ideas likely have been tried. Things like baking bread, watching a sunrise or Christmas caroling aren't profound, but she said doing those with a different attitude can make a world of difference.

"Yes, we've done some of these things before, maybe when we were younger. But doing them again during a different season of life may be a whole new experience," she said. Bostrom doesn't buy the "been there, done that," attitude. She said engaging in the activities with focused attention can make them feel new.

Some of the ideas are heavy - conquer your fear, make a confession, forgive a wrong. Others are on the lighter side - ride a roller coaster, learn about jazz, hug someone.

The idea is to do something. Don't let life pass you by, Bostrom said.

"People like lists," she said. "They like to check things off their lists. We often have the desire but lack the ideas. This book provides those."

The book is available on Amazon.com. Bostrom also blogs on the topic at bostrom.wjkbooks.com.

#9 Help fight poverty through microfinance

 To tell the truth, I didn’t know anything about microfinance when I started working on this book. My editor had the idea to include this entry – and I’m so glad he suggested it! I learned a little bit as I wrote the piece, but hadn’t done anything further. Then – lo and behold – an article in the October 19, 2009 issue of TIME magazine caught my eye.

TIME has a page each issue called “10 Questions,” through which readers can ask questions of various people in the news. In the aforementioned issue, the questionee happened to be Muhammad Yunus, a 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and one of sixteen recipients of the 2009 Medal of Freedom, which was awarded August 19, 2009. The Medal of Freedom is the highest award given by the United States to civilians who have contributed to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The TIME article can be found at www.time.com/10questions.

Yunus answered ten questions on microfinance. He is the founder of the Grameen Bank (www.grameen-info.org), whose primary outreach initially was to the poverty stricken in Bangladesh. The bank now has 28,000 staff members, 8 million borrowers, 2,600 branches, and programs in countries around the world, including the U.S. and Latin America.

Microfinancing not only provides assistance to those in greatest need, it empowers people to build new lives, and to find independence and self-worth as well as a means to break out of the cycle of poverty. It’s really an amazing concept – and one that is proving over and over again to be a world-changing endeavor.

I have not yet committed to a microfinance project, but reading this article, as well as doing the research for my book, has certainly piqued my interest! Stay tuned for an update. Once I make my investment, I’ll let you know what else I discover!

 

#81 - Vist an airport chapel

All this past summer, while on an amazing sabbatical that took me to a variety of countries and places within the U.S., I planned to take time to pray in an airport chapel. I flew in and out of  airports in Chicago (both Midway and O’Hare), Paris, Rome, London, Cork (Ireland), Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas - you'd think I would have found time to pray in one of these places, at least one of the more exotic ones. But no!

On the very last night of my Sabbatical, I flew from Las Vegas where I spent a week with my father, to Midway (Chicago). Fifteen weeks of travel had come to a close. I was by myself, walking down familiar corridors on my way to the luggage claim one last time for now, when I glanced up, for no real reason. A very small sign caught my eye; a sign I had never, in all my years of flying in and out of Midway, ever noticed before; a sign with the words, "Airport Chapel."

So there, in the Midway airport, after my last flight in who knows how long, and so close to home, I finally made it to an airport chapel.

The chapel setting was simple. Chairs in rows, a table to the side with a Bible and a Koran. A guest book to sign. A small, pulpit-type structure in the corner. A prayer rug over to the side. I was the only person in the room. I felt peaceful, and safe.

I sat down on one of the chairs, bowed my head, and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for my summer, for all the safe travels, for the many wonderful places I got to see, for a home awaiting my return. I prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for my husband and three children, my church family who loves me, a dog who would be very glad to see me, and a wonderful life all around.

Next, I prayed for all the people traveling, those who are far from home, especially people from other countries. I prayed for people who have lost loved ones in airline disasters, and people who journey for sad reasons as well as happy. I prayed for the people who are starting a new life, leaving an old one behind, or just returning to where they left off.

I prayed for pilots and airline crews and the people who haul luggage and fix food for the flights, and everyone who has anything to do with airports and trying to ensure safe and pleasant travel for strangers they will never meet. When I was through praying, I sat in silence for a few moments longer.

I can’t think of a better way to have ended my sabbatical journey.

When I left, I signed the guest book just outside the entrance to the chapel. I picked up some literature that explained the ministry of Midway’s chapel, as well as airport ministry in general. One flyer gave a website: www.airportchapels.org, that explains the ministry at both Midway and O’Hare airports.

In one, small blue handout, I found prayers for travelers. I’d like to share the one prayer with all of you.

“Hear our prayers, as we begin our journey –

·         Bring us safely to our destination;

·         Be with those who are responsible for making our journey possible; the flight crew, airport workers, and those charged with our safety and security;

·         Accompany with your consolation and encouragement those among us who make their journey in sorrow or with a sense of loss;

·         Give us patience and a deep spirit of respect for all whom we will meet along the way;

·         When our earthly journey is completed, bring us home to You with joy.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I’m going to put this prayer card in my luggage, so the next time I travel, I’ll remember to offer this prayer. And maybe I’ll leave myself a little extra time to explore a few more airport chapels before I’m through.

 

 

Now in Ireland!

Hello, friends!

I am now in Ireland, here for two weeks, attending a writer's retreat. I have a list from the "99 Things" I hope to do while I'm here, including #39 - Gaze at the night sky; #90 - Discover Celtic Christianity; and hopefullly even #16 - Milk a cow! That's just a few.

I still have posts from our time in Italy that I will be updating soon, including some videos.

I'm hoping to hear from other readers soon. Tell me about the 99 Things you've done and what you've enjoyed!

Blessings,
Kathy