Gerald G. May (1940–2005)

May made Theresa of Avila's works (and presumably John of the Cross) more comprehensible to a modern reader than Miribai Starr's recent translations of My Life and The Interior Castle. John's "Dark Night" referring to the obscurity of God within us rather than depression or God seemingly ignoring us was encouraging as was the idea that prayer life is not a linear progression but goes up and down, loops back to be beginning and the stages often overlap. He also contrasts meditation, inward show more focus to the exclusion of everything else, with contemplation, opening one's awareness to encompass everything happening around which I found interesting and had never heard before. show less

Comprehensive and clearly written, Care of Mind/Care of Spirit never reduces religion to psychology, but treats religious experience as the truly unique thing that it is. Reflecting an impressive theological and psychological competence, May's carefully balanced, groundbreaking study offers much needed assistance to the growing ranks of those who counsel others on their religious quest, whether spiritual director, pastoral counselor, religious educator, therapist, minister, priest, or show more religious. It also offers insight to all who are interested in the dynamics of spirituality. show less

The overused but still useful word “addiction” comes from the 16th century Latin noun addictio, which means “a giving over or surrender.” Not the good surrender, but the bad one, a giving over to something or someone that will then control me and eventually ruin me.

We think of addicts as being on the way to ruin. They might be very dangerous, and certainly not in control of themselves. They are … not us. We are not addicts; someone else is.

Some “addictions” seem good; can’t show more you be “addicted” to God? Can’t you feel compelled to do good works and bring blessing to the people in your life?

God loves us, but God hates our addictions. God loves me the sinner, but God hates the sin. And addiction is certainly sin.

Some of us, although certainly not me, have “addictive personalities.” They (not me, mind you) are weak and prone to that “giving over” to alcohol, or stress, or video games, or pornography, or gossip, or some other awful thing. We should watch out for them.

These questionable assertions about addiction are addressed by Dr. Gerald May in this bestselling book. It’s been republished with a new introduction and two short articles published a few years after the book was originally published in 1988. Gerald May was a distinguished psychiatrist who worked and taught and wrote as a faculty member of the Shalem School of Spiritual Direction for 30 plus years before he died of cancer in 2005.

Dr. May is a poet and a philosopher. He is a Christian and sometimes sounds like a mystic. At the same time he is precise in his understanding and description of the mental and physical nature of addiction. Although this book was written just as the river of new information about how the brain works began to really flow, it describes much more of the physical nature of attachment and addiction than most of us know, and in a way that is both detailed and non-technical.

Actually, most of us don’t have a clue about addiction, because we’ve heard so much on TV and read so many flash-in-the-pan stories of both truth and fiction. This kind of non-helpful “information” barrage makes us think we know, when we don’t.

Some of my best friends are addicts. But, Gerald May makes it clear, that’s not surprising. I’m an addict too. So is he. Early in the book May compiles a list of attraction addictions (what we want) and aversion addictions (what we avoid). He says in one of his many charming personal asides, “If it is any consolation, I am addicted to at least fourteen of the listed items, and I could add several others if I wanted to be completely candid. Which I do not.”

If you find time to read this book (as I did not … even as a Christian counselor, even as one who works regularly with folks in great pain because of their addictions, even though I had heard over and over for years how good a book this was … until I was assigned it as required reading for a class), you will discover the seamy side of yourself. Rather, you’ll have to acknowledge the seamy side of yourself that you probably already know all too well.

And, thank God, you will also discover the glorious and unconditioned nature of God’s grace for you. Seamy side and all.

Take it or leave it. show less

Gerald May has written an excellent primer to St John of the Cross with a little Teresa of Avila thrown in for good measure. I recommend it to anybody looking to expand their insight into spirituality and specifically our inner growth into the Divine. My only critique is May's comments regarding addiction, which are both intriguing and disappointing. It is like he get the outward veneer of recovery but not the deep monster of addiction, otherwise I highly recommend.