The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Spirituality for Teens by William R. Grimbol Response

I’ve recently finished the ever-so-good book The Complete Idiot’s Guide (so well put) of Spirituality for Teens. The book starts out with a thing saying that no, you’re not actually a complete idiot, but it comes pretty close to describing a lot of people when it comes to this subject. We’re all spiritual, but most are just not aware of the presence of our own spirituality, or deny it.

I got this book as a christmas present, with me having expressed interest once or twice, some other people in our community had done it. I think that this was a very good present that I got here, since it kept me occupied with looking, and catching a glimpse of this most magnificent window that spirituality presents to you. This window can be intimidating at times, because it’s talking about such a big subject, but it’s worth the leap of faith.

A thing one might hope a book like this would contain would be super-fantastic ideas, like telling how to love and pointers on how to be human in the best way possible. This book accomplishes this goal, and does a pretty good (not perfect though) job of talking to the typical teenager. It translates the amazing resources we have (bible, everyday lives, everything in life) into bite sized chunks through cleverly laid out chapters and subsections of the chapters, as well as quotes, pointers, summarization and question sections. This was a book that I could pick up, usually when in a not-the-best mood and read, not getting an instant high like “OH. MY. God. This stuff is good, my life has found a totally new meaning!”, but more like “mmmmph, I agree, I saw that today.”. It was a faithful companion right to the end, leaving me with a bit of wisdom, and occasionally some inspiration. The author, Pastor William Grimbol operates a youth group, so that probably helps him talk to teens.

Another thing that this book helped me with is believing in this oh so mystical God we occasionally hear about. I think the book could’ve done better, in having a chapter at the beginning on what God is, since the concept of God [without explanation] would probably turn quite a few so-called atheists away. But if you’re patient with the concept of God, (the book is always talking about it) the idea starts to seep in after a while. Gifts from God, God operates the controls -- not you and so on. I like the idea of God that the book radiates, and I’m pleased that the book showed me it though it’s window.

One of the things that got me excited in Spirituality for Teens were the occasional paragraphs where he would talk about something, by golly, I’ll just read you one of my favorite ones, cleverly bookmarked with a strand of grass so it’s easy to read to my friends. “On almost a daily basis, I experience my life running to the edge of a cliff, only to be left with nothing else to do but take a leap of faith. Each and every day I am faced with the fact that I am not God, not in control, and not in charge; and there are no black-and-white answers; and that the only certainty is the illusion of certainty. That is why they call it faith. Faith is the ultimate trust”. I completely agree with it, with life running to the edge of a cliff on almost a daily basis, not in control (that idea took a while to seep in, but I love that one) and so on. This paragraph means so much to me because it’s so meaningful, it squashes our misconception that we’re in control and that our “plans” are concrete and things to live by. The ideas are just so rich in here, and can talk on a personal level to the average human being! 

This book has the potential to create community as well, or bring together people in a deeper manner. My parents and I read a chapter occasionally, my friend Trevor and I have started it, and some of my friends have requested a copy. I think it’s a great thing for a group of teens to get together and read a bit of this stuff. There is some resistance, which is expected since a lot of people haven’t been introduced to spirituality, and deny the need for it in their life. I’ve learned just to be patient, and not to force the book on others, as that creates hostility and goes against the purpose of the book, but if read in a group with acceptance, it’s a great tool for understanding a whole lot of crazy shit!

Spread the word! Recommend this book to someone, it’s an amazing resource that I highly recommend, I’m anticipating it’s going to be part of my life for a while, with reading it with people and all.