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Written by Barbara Edelman
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Monday, 02 April 2007 |
As the year has turned towards spring and the renewal festivities are upon us, I thought a quick re-cap of some spiritual fiction might be in order.
 If you haven't read any books in Jan Karon's Mitford Series now is the
time to begin. Karon creates an imaginary southern village, Mitford,
where love abounds and people look after each other. What a concept!
While it is warm and lovely it is NOT drippy and stupid, so I return to
Mitford over and over again. Father Tim is our middle-aged hero -
kindly and remarkably human, full of odd little everyday frailties,
facing normal human challenges with steady grace and warmth. The
characters in Mitford struggle with their all-to0-human issues but
always with sense of belief, wonder and trust that things will turn out
all right, and that there is order in our truly chaotic-seeming
universe. The Mitford series is a tonic for these overwhelming times.
The Harmony Novels by Phillip Gulley is another series with a churchman
as main character, but this one has a flock of cuckoo birds that would
try anyone's patience. In a sense, Harmony seems more real, and the
pastor who ministers to these seriously flawed humans, more challenged
to find the good in everyone, and in every looney church group that
would try the patience of a saint. Fun, and charming, and also
enlightening. (Sometimes, I think enlightenment is really just finding
a way to be kind to those that drive us crazy, and be grateful for the
kindness of those who are driven crazy by us!)
Anne Lamott - Well, what can you say about Anne Lamott? She is a one
woman ray of light. A funny, wise, lunatic who found God and is more
than willing to share. Her books of essays all address different
issues, but unifying them all is Lamott's deep faith and friendly
courage - and razor sharp way with a one liner! Look for her just
released latest, Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith.
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