A Unitarian Universalist minister and chaplain for the New Mexico Air National Guard, Xolani Kacela shares how he went from a mixed religious background (the African Methodist Episcopal faith of his mother and the religious skepticism of his father) into a more stable, fulfilling life as a “spiritual humanist, meaning that spiritual practice and study are vital to me, yet so are the works of philosophers, poets, scientists, and musicians.” With daily practices such as prayer and meditation, spiritual journaling, and reconciliation, he believes anyone can grow from a life predicated on rules imposed from the outside to one built on a unique foundation of personal conviction.
Kacela defines people who have “a hold on themselves” as those who can “trust the living spirit’s promises and depend on sustenance from their faith community.” Specifically, this requires a commitment to “sustaining relationships,” to a faith community of one’s own choosing, and to “regular spiritual practices.” He gives a clear picture of several nurturing practices, with emphasis on how to cement them into our daily lives.
Kacela’s writing is slightly formal, which doesn’t obscure his authenticity, warmth, and humor, but rather gives his book gravitas. He has mapped out a unique space here, a place between traditional religion and New Age spirituality. His own experience with congregational worship and spiritual aid bestows him credibility, and he illuminates this spiritual trail with sacred texts of all religions and writings of a wide variety of spiritual mentors, including the renowned civil rights activist and mystic Howard Thurman. The book includes a 13-page bibliography of resource material at its end.
The author believes his audience will be 24- to 37-year-old men who may have felt uncomfortable in a more traditional religion, as he once did. Yet, his ability to credibly and passionately convey the benefits of a life of faith and the steps by which to achieve it will enlighten anyone looking for a more fulfilling way to live.
Get a Hold of Yourself by Xolani Kacela is an exploration into the development of one’s personal faith as a strong foundation for personal actualization and for interacting with others. The author speaks from a Unitarian Universalist perspective, but highlights that the focus is not necessarily on a specific religion but on the acknowledgement of the validity of faith practices. In summary, everyone needs a basis of faith and whether that turns out to be Christian principles or another religion, the author suggests that the individual should make this search a priority.
He explores what it means to have sustaining faith, exemplary faith, and the importance of spiritual practices on one’s faith journey. One of the main themes is that of independence and coming to an individual place of strength and spiritual identity. That is what it means to truly get a hold of one’s self. The author explores different ways to come to this level of realization and identity including prayer, journaling and having a support community. He uses examples of faith leaders in his own life and his own experiences to illustrate the principles suggested. He notes that the spiritual journey is not necessarily a linear one but can include what he calls ‘faith detours’. These detours are usually not a departure from a main faith identity but are usually further explorations of other faith concepts.
The author makes the content general enough for many persons from different backgrounds to be able to relate. He does so by emphasizing the results of having strong faith such as being able to withstand the struggles of life and being less influenced by outside forces. It comes with great conviction and without anxiety. It comes with developing an anti-fragile mentality. It is not a manual for eliminating the struggles of life but a handbook for attempting to handle each situation as they arise and bouncing back stronger than before being challenged. The reader can use the suggestions in each chapter as a starting point for developing their faith on their own time and initiative. Get a Hold of Yourself is an inspirational and thought-provoking book that explores faith with a unique perspective.
