Glimpses: Youth Work and Spirituality

If you want to explore spirituality with young people, this book will be very helpful.

The authors have five approaches that can be tailored to various situations. "Reflections" is a section that is focused on interesting photographs - from sunsets and seascapes to images illustrating emotions, personal growth, risk and much more. For each image there are prompts to help young people explore their reactions at a deeper spiritual level. These focus on an awareness of self, then an awareness of others, then looking at big questions, and, finally, exploring a possible relation to "An Other" - a term used to suggest something transcendent.

"Atmospheres" features ideas about creatively using the room you are working in to give a more reflective quality to the space. "Essences" explores why spiritual development is important, and presents snapshots of writers' thinking on spiritual issues. "Stations" offers ideas on how to set up experiences that open the door to exploring feelings, values and emotions with a spiritual dimension. "Breaths" is made up of additional ideas, such as using aromatherapy or photography, and comes with instructions.

All of these sections are supported with music, images and videos that are stored on an enclosed DVD together with PDF files of resource sheets and other materials that can be printed to support the activities. The book exercises and the DVD form a real treasure chest of resources and good ideas for those working with young people.

The book is less explicit in describing the role of the youth worker. Youth workers are aware that they themselves are the main tool in developing fruitful relationships with young people.

This is particularly important when discussing values, beliefs and other profound and deep areas of young people's lives. In the same way that a former athlete brings an extra quality to coaching other young athletes, the level of spiritual experience in the youth worker can bring a similar added dimension to the exercises suggested in the book.

In other words, I believe that the quality of the work is rooted in the spirituality of the youth worker.

I see this book working best where the youth workers have an awareness of their own spiritual journeys and have the resources to offer and support stillness and reflection.

At a time where there is such an emphasis on doing and achieving it is important that young people have the chance to reflect on their being and their life journeys. This book is a welcome resource to equip youth workers to accompany young people in this spiritual exploration.

- Reviewed by Maxine Green, youth work consultant and author of several books on spirituality and youth work.