When I lived in Oregon, one of my jobs was to visit members
of the parish who lived in assisted living facilities. My favorite one to visit
was in the nearby town of Mount Angel. After visiting those seniors who were a
little less cheerful than their nameplates ("Dot 'n Lil Bit"), I
would often make a short detour here before driving back through the hop fields
to the parish office. I would stop in at the library or just sit in the parking lot, contemplatively,
blessed in the view.
These days, it is not often that I experience (or even
acknowledge) such moments of stillness. But finding this book helped me
remember that it's necessary.
Lauren Winner's book Still
is about what happens to a recent convert to Christianity when faced with a
spiritual crisis. When the book opens she is no longer an enthusiastic seeker
of God, but in a darker, doubt-filled, middle place. And since this middle
lacks the fervent excitement of the newly converted or the quiet strength of the veteran believer, what
is left? Through poetry, scripture, friends, and new rites, she tries to come
to terms with a more imperfect faith. She also comes to realize that even
though it requires a little more struggle (or even a lot), God is still to be
found.
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