Before our family Thanksgiving travels, I finished Leif Enger's Peace Like a River. It was my first exposure to Enger, and the book was brilliant. The story meanders through the Badlands in search of runaway criminal and oldest brother Davy Land, strung together by various supernatural nods to the family via the faith of its father Jeremiah Land.Enger's book is a breath of spiritual fresh air. In an age of skepticism about all things mystical, 11-year-old narrator Reuben Land bears witness to his father's miracles. He closes his story with a statement of faith:
Is there a single person on whom I can press belief?
No sir.
All I can do is say, Here's how it went. Here's what I saw.
I've been there and am going back.
Make of it what you will.
He reminds me to bear witness to the gospel miracle free of worry about trying to move hearts. Leave that to the God of miracles.
Next up: Wendell Berry's Hannah Coulter.
Hannah Coulter is on my list, too! Maybe I will move it up a few slots so we can discuss after Christmas. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, Anna, I would enjoy discussing it with you! I actually finished the book Wednesday night, and it was beautifully written, poetic at times in Berry's pastoral style.
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