 IN THE BEGINNING WAS LOVE: CONTEMPLATIVE WORDS OF ROBERT LAX (140 pages; ISBN: 978-0-87243-276-5). Templegate Publishers, 2015Robert Lax, (1915-2000), was a poet, hermit, sage, and peacemaker. Thomas Merton said of Lax, "He had a natural, instinctive spirituality, an inborn direction to the living God." Jack Kerouac called him "a Pilgrim in search of beautiful innocence."
A native of New York, Lax graduated from Columbia University in 1938 with a degree in English Literature. After much wandering he traveled to Greece where he made Patmos, Isle of the Revelation, his spiritual and creative workshop. There he resided for three decades, writing the "ascetic" and experimental verse that would rank him "Among America's greatest poets, a true minimalist who can weave awesome poems from remarkably few words." - New York Times Book Review
In The Beginning Was Love is a unique introduction to Lax as contemplative. These spiritual selections, mostly gathered from his poems and journals, portray Lax as a mystic filled with a deep love for both Creator and creation.
"A luminous offering of poetry and prayer; every page is a meditation."
- Jonathan Montaldo, editor of The Intimate Merton
"This compact collection radiates transcendent love."
- Jane Dillenberger, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, author of The Religious Art of Andy Warhol
"Of the remarkable people I have been lucky enough to know, Bob Lax had a special magnetism. He was one of the great poets of his generation yet no great poet was less a self promoter. Much like a desert monk, he fled from the spotlight. His last hiding place was the Greek isle of Patmos. That so much of his work was published in his lifetime is due not to Lax seeking public notice as to admirers of his work putting it into print via small presses. Steve Georgiou's new book, In The Beginning Was Love, is the latest case in point. Georgiou has created a beautifully assembled patchwork quilt of Lax's writing plus an outstanding introduction to Lax's life and work. For those new to Lax, this is an excellent starting point. Those who already treasure Lax will appreciate the selections and their ordering."
- Jim Forest, writer, educator, lay theologian, peace activist
author of Loving Our Enemies: Reflections On the Hardest Commandment
"Steve Georgiou, the compiler of this beautiful compact book has gathered gems of meditation and poetry from the works of Lax, a close friend of Thomas Merton. After the first page we are aware that we have in our hands a unique and precious treasure…Lax is a poet of the unspeakable and a mystic of the inexpressible experience of God with which God favors those who love him. We can be grateful to the editor who gives us an introduction to this kind of mysticism in small enough portions to delight but not overwhelm us. Instead we feel the need to read them over and over again to relive the impact of a few words."
- Sr. Maria Victoria
"This is an outstanding and beautifully bound collection of selections from Robert Lax's poems and journals. They paint a picture of Lax as poet-mystic; one who is at once wide-eyed and open to creator and Creation, while at the same time acutely aware of the full rage of all that makes us human."
- Paul Fromont, Prodigal Kiwi, New Zealand
(for this entire review click on the following link: Prodigal Kiwi)
"In the Beginning Was Love is a very small book, but it is not a book that one reads from cover to cover in one sitting. It is a classic which has to be meditated on word by word, line by line. Read, then close the book and memorize, chew it in meditation, study it, then put those words in action in ourselves and toward others…As Lax said so well, "Love needs a compass." For me, Lax is the compass."
- Sr. Florence, Monastery of St. Clare, Chesterfield, New Jersey
In The Beginning Was Love is published and distributed by Templegate Publishers 1-800-367-4844.
In The Beginning Was Love is also available through Amazon.
If "Currently Out of Stock" appears, order anyway and a copy will be sent as soon as copies are available.
Here are a list of articles/reviews of In The Beginning Was Love:
Center for Courage & Renewal - Best books in 2015 (Scroll down the page to see the book listed) Robert Lax Facebook Page - Robert Lax looked at the world as if he were looking for God. He took notes.
Prodigal Kiwi tribute - All Rings, One Ring: Robert Lax - A Centennial Tribute.
Weavings - Steve Georgiou.
RobertLax.com Blog - A New Book of Lax’s Contemplative Writings, edited by S. T. Georgiou.
To download a promotional brochure for In The Beginning Was Love, click here [PDF - 355 KB].
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