Reviewed Book: Cummings, Louise. Eyes Wide Open: Spiritual Resources for Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse. Winfield, BC: Wood Lake Books, 1994

Ludwig, Susan

English

Wilfrid Laurier University

ConsensusVolume 20Issue 2 In Praise of Valiant Women Article 2511-1-1994Eyes Wide Open: Spiritual Resources for Healingfrom Childhood Sexual AbuseSusan LudwigFollow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensusThis Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by anauthorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.Recommended CitationLudwig, Susan (1994) "Eyes Wide Open: Spiritual Resources for Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse," Consensus: Vol. 20 : Iss. 2 ,Article 25.Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol20/iss2/25Book Reviews 177Arnold integrates the first section on pastoral awareness into his dis-cussion of specific issues by including a section on the appropriate pastoralresponse to the situations descri 1:)ed. Here he refers to the earlier discussionof l^oundaries and attitudes, using them as a resource for counseling. In themine-filled terrain of human sexuality, where church social statements fearto tread, this l^ook offers sage advice to practitioners in ministry—and itsfirst section ought to be a required exercise for pastors and their mentors.Martha Ellen StortzPacific Lutheran Theological SeminaryBerkeley, CaliforniaEyes Wide Open, Spiritual Resources for Healing fromChildhood Sexual AbuseLouise CummingsWinfield, BC: Wood Lake Books, 1994124 pp. $19.95I must admit that I approached this book with a great deal of caution!So many 'Spiritual” resources that relate to issues around sexual abuse areheavy on forgiveness and light on reality. I wondered if this book could beany different. The need for good material for sexual abuse survivors madereading this book worth a try!Beginning with the introduction one can see that this is going to bean honest look at a survivor’s journey. At the outset, the author pointsout to the reader that the chapters are not numbered because there is no“correct” order to the way one would experience them. This underscoresthe importance of understanding the path a survivor needs to travel in aworld that struggles to make everything appear to be linear.The outline of the book is brilliant in its simplicity. Each chapter beginswith a candid description of the author’s abuse experience. Cummings doesnot (hvell as much on the historical description of her abuse as on the impactthat it had and continues to have on her.This description is immediately followed b}^ the question—“Where isGod?” In this part, the author draws on her rich knowledge of Old andN('w Testarnent passages that have siipported her in her healing. She offersth(' rc'a.der those passages that gave her support as she faced each newh'C'ling and experience.Finally, each chapter ends with the question— “Where is 1113' communityof faith?” This is a rich lesson to any of us about the value of cultivating ad('('p rc'lationship with our faith communit}^ It speaks of the ol^vious sup-port th(' author finds in her community. Also, it points out the importanceto the communit}' that lives through a difficult experience in concert with178 Consensusone of its members. Cummings never makes this seem easy: however, sheoffers a description of a rich experience for all involved.The chapter titles give the reader a glimpse of the journey: Introduc-tion, Discovery: Horror, Gentleness, Grief, Rage 1, Rage 2, Memories Re-turning, Honesty, Trust, Forgiveness, Hope, Facing Fears, Change, Conclu-sion. Browsing through the titles is like scanning a road map on which theonly clear thing about the route is the starting place and the destination.This is a graphic description of a survivor’s journey.The illustrations are abstract and subtle. They are almost subliminalon first reading! As the content progresses, however, one can recognize theimpact and continuity they offer to the text.This book is a truly remarkable work. In it the author describes herjourney in a way that avoids so many of the pitfalls of cathartic self disclo-sure. It is rich in imagination as the author tells metaphorical stories to herinner child. It is simple, clear and honest—something remarkable amongman}'' other works published about this subject. Eyes Wide Open will be-come a companion to anyone who supports a woman who has been abused.It shows survivors and their care givers how to help survivors integrate theirhistory with their faith experience.Susan LudwigSexuality Education Consultant,Newmarket, OntarioDreaming the Tree of LifeShirley Jane EndicottDimdas, ON: Artemis Enterprises, 1992158 pp.Dream,mg the Tree of Life is a collection of stories, poems and songsc-elebrating the experience of women from a feminist point of view. ShirleyJane Endicott takes her inspiration from biblical themes and from presentday life. I can applaud Endicott for examining forthrightly such difficultissue's as spousal abuse and rape. “A High Rock” is a sensitive yet frankexploration of one woman’s feelings about her attraction to other womenand al)out a specihe sexual encounter with a lesbian. Endicott hopes thather l)ook “will encourage other women to create writings which value theirexperiences of spirituality, find their own truths and expand the process ofwomen-centred myth making” (p. 14).My reaction to this book is one of respect for the author’s creativity.But, personally, I did not find this book particularly nourishing or inspiring.Most of it was at the edge of my comfort level. Discomfort isn’t necessarilya, bad thing. For it can push me to look at issues that I might not otherwise

Eyes Wide Open: Spiritual Resources for Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse

Scholars Commons

Consensus
Volume 20
Issue 2 In Praise of Valiant Women Article 25
11-1-1994
Eyes Wide Open: Spiritual Resources for Healing
from Childhood Sexual Abuse
Susan Ludwig
Follow this and additional works at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus
This Book Reviews is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Consensus by an
authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact scholarscommons@wlu.ca.
Recommended Citation
Ludwig, Susan (1994) "Eyes Wide Open: Spiritual Resources for Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse," Consensus: Vol. 20 : Iss. 2 ,
Article 25.
Available at: http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol20/iss2/25
Book Reviews 177
Arnold integrates the first section on pastoral awareness into his dis-
cussion of specific issues by including a section on the appropriate pastoral
response to the situations descri 1:)ed. Here he refers to the earlier discussion
of l^oundaries and attitudes, using them as a resource for counseling. In the
mine-filled terrain of human sexuality, where church social statements fear
to tread, this l^ook offers sage advice to practitioners in ministry—and its
first section ought to be a required exercise for pastors and their mentors.
Martha Ellen Stortz
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
Berkeley, California
Eyes Wide Open, Spiritual Resources for Healing from
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Louise Cummings
Winfield, BC: Wood Lake Books, 1994
124 pp. $19.95
I must admit that I approached this book with a great deal of caution!
So many 'Spiritual” resources that relate to issues around sexual abuse are
heavy on forgiveness and light on reality. I wondered if this book could be
any different. The need for good material for sexual abuse survivors made
reading this book worth a try!
Beginning with the introduction one can see that this is going to be
an honest look at a survivor’s journey. At the outset, the author points
out to the reader that the chapters are not numbered because there is no
“correct” order to the way one would experience them. This underscores
the importance of understanding the path a survivor needs to travel in a
world that struggles to make everything appear to be linear.
The outline of the book is brilliant in its simplicity. Each chapter begins
with a candid description of the author’s abuse experience. Cummings does
not (hvell as much on the historical description of her abuse as on the impact
that it had and continues to have on her.
This description is immediately followed b}^ the question—“Where is
God?” In this part, the author draws on her rich knowledge of Old and
N('w Testarnent passages that have siipported her in her healing. She offers
th(' rc'a.der those passages that gave her support as she faced each new
h'C'ling and experience.
Finally, each chapter ends with the question— “Where is 1113' community
of faith?” This is a rich lesson to any of us about the value of cultivating a
d('('p rc'lationship with our faith communit}^ It speaks of the ol^vious sup-
port th(' author finds in her community. Also, it points out the importance
to the communit}' that lives through a difficult experience in concert with
178 Consensus
one of its members. Cummings never makes this seem easy: however, she
offers a description of a rich experience for all involved.
The chapter titles give the reader a glimpse of the journey: Introduc-
tion, Discovery: Horror, Gentleness, Grief, Rage 1, Rage 2, Memories Re-
turning, Honesty, Trust, Forgiveness, Hope, Facing Fears, Change, Conclu-
sion. Browsing through the titles is like scanning a road map on which the
only clear thing about the route is the starting place and the destination.
This is a graphic description of a survivor’s journey.
The illustrations are abstract and subtle. They are almost subliminal
on first reading! As the content progresses, however, one can recognize the
impact and continuity they offer to the text.
This book is a truly remarkable work. In it the author describes her
journey in a way that avoids so many of the pitfalls of cathartic self disclo-
sure. It is rich in imagination as the author tells metaphorical stories to her
inner child. It is simple, clear and honest—something remarkable among
man}'' other works published about this subject. Eyes Wide Open will be-
come a companion to anyone who supports a woman who has been abused.
It shows survivors and their care givers how to help survivors integrate their
history with their faith experience.
Susan Ludwig
Sexuality Education Consultant,
Newmarket, Ontario
Dreaming the Tree of Life
Shirley Jane Endicott
Dimdas, ON: Artemis Enterprises, 1992
158 pp.
Dream,mg the Tree of Life is a collection of stories, poems and songs
c-elebrating the experience of women from a feminist point of view. Shirley
Jane Endicott takes her inspiration from biblical themes and from present
day life. I can applaud Endicott for examining forthrightly such difficult
issue's as spousal abuse and rape. “A High Rock” is a sensitive yet frank
exploration of one woman’s feelings about her attraction to other women
and al)out a specihe sexual encounter with a lesbian. Endicott hopes that
her l)ook “will encourage other women to create writings which value their
experiences of spirituality, find their own truths and expand the process of
women-centred myth making” (p. 14).
My reaction to this book is one of respect for the author’s creativity.
But, personally, I did not find this book particularly nourishing or inspiring.
Most of it was at the edge of my comfort level. Discomfort isn’t necessarily
a, bad thing. For it can push me to look at issues that I might not otherwise


https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1749&amp;context=consensus

Eyes Wide Open: Spiritual Resources for Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Wilfrid Laurier University

Scholars Commons