Skip to main content

love mercy


Recently I was sitting in a coffee shop with a friend.
(which could be almost any day)
But on this particular day there was a guy sitting at a table near me about a chapter into Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne.
I warned him to be careful reading that book.
He laughed awkwardly.
And I said, no really, be careful.
It’s a tough book to read.
And try and live your life the same way afterwards.

And so is this book.
And it is slightly easier to relate to than a radical from Philidelphia (who I happen to love).
Because she was a little more like me.
Suburban and comfortable.
With an unshakable sense that it is all a bit too much.
Too much and lacking all at the same time.

The book is about Lisa and her teenage daughter’s trip to Swaziland with Children's Hope Chest.

So before I even read this book I was sold.
Tom Davis and his amazing organization. check.
Lisa Samson ( uhm…have you read Quaker Summer….some amazing fiction….if not check it out from the library TODAY!) check. check.

But this book is different. So Quaker Summer made me want to go put colored dots all over my things ( read the book if you want to know what I’m talking about). This book might actually make me do it.

What I love about the book isn’t so much the stories about Africa ( although many of them moved me to tears). It’s more of the stories that got her there.
Because the story usually starts somewhere else.

And makes me hope that mine has already begun.

So take a few moments to check out the book and Lisa’s website.
And consider yourself warned.
Like the guy in the coffee shop.
This book will leave you unsettled in a really good way.

(and some of you know that I usually give away my copy....this one Zondervan graciously provided....but I'm not quite ready to part with this one yet. I'm still chewing on it a bit and pouring over the photographs of those sweet swazi children).

Comments

Michelle said…
The pictures were quite awesome weren't they. It makes me want to just hug those children.

My review is up, if you'd like to see it.

Popular posts from this blog

Either/Or

Recently I met an old friend for lunch. He was actually my senior high prom date. He wasn’t just my prom date, but had been my friend for a good part of high school. And our group has mostly stayed in touch through the years. But not him. Even though we live in the same big metroplex, I hadn’t seen him in almost 15 years. At prom, He even won some kind of senior superlative, Mr. BHS or something like that. In other words, he was well-liked, nice, funny and smart. And it helped that he drove a Camero. We didn’t break up or have a falling out. He kind of just disappeared. And not just from me, but from everyone. And I had looked for him. At class reunions. On myspace. And eventually, only about a year ago, he finally showed up on facebook. When he did, I suggested we get together for dinner or something. And he responded with a really awkward email. Explaining that he was gay. Warning me. Trying to let me out of my dinner invitation if I wanted. And I already knew this. Possibly I had ev

me too

I used to never question God. It was just part of the way things were. Just like I believed in Santa and the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny. And eventually I grew up and started to wonder. I always believed, But occasionally I started to wonder if he was always good. If he really loved me. Singular me rather than an all inclusive version. That he was paying attention. That my prayers mattered.` And I didn’t know that I should play by the rules. That questioning these outloud things in a Bible study or Sunday School class Will get you bumped to the top of the prayer list. Because I know. But sometimes I wonder. And I didn’t need their scripture memory verses or their books or their prayers. (but I guess prayers never hurt) And I was just hoping for someone else to say “me too”. And, Jason Boyett’s book, O Me of Little Faith Is one great big “me too” And like most books I like he asks a whole lot more questions than he answers. Hard ones. Ones without real answers. Ones that make me wa

imaginary friends

Recently I had a friend disappoint me. I didn’t tell them. And I didn’t write about it when it happened. Instead I seethed a little and got angrier and slightly resentful and finally dumped it on my husband. (who had some great advice that will come later) And. I have hesitated to write this piece because a lot of my real life friends read this. Maybe even the one I’m writing about. Maybe not. Actually I’m not really sure. And to be honest the best pace to work this out would be with them. Just them. And not on line. But. It’s not really about them. It’s more about me. And I don’t think there is so much to work out anyways. So, if you are my real life friend and are reading this and wondering, hesitantly or fearfully if this is about you. It might be. But it probably isn’t. And again. Even if it is. It’s not REALLY about you. And if it isn’t. It could be. If we have been friends for more than five minutes, we have probably had a moment like this. So, back to me venting to my husband.