I have come to a place in my experience as a reader to believe good books, like many other tools we need in life, are purposed for us to read at the proper moment. When I begin a book, whether fiction or nonfiction, I am eagerly anticipating a revelation. I am rarely disappointed. Words work past the surface of my mind’s reactions and filter down to my heart. I don’t know if it is this way for everyone, but it is what has fueled my lifelong passion for the written word.
Certainly, it should be no surprise that as I slowly work through my extensive list of Must-Read-ASAP I should cross paths with Marlena Graves’ A Beautiful Disaster for such a time as this. I had a dry summer. This book took me by the hand and walked me through the wilderness. In her deeply insightful, yet humbly practical way, Graves’ words are a balm to dried out sun-scorched souls. More than once I sat down with this book and was comforted, challenged, and inspired to march on.
I have met Marlena, so I have no hesitation to tell you she is a compassionate guide worth your time and trust. I could ramble on about how much I think you should read this book, but I think writers say it best in their own words. Here’s an excerpt with a story I found especially moving and challenging:
After studying at Princeton and earning his PhD from Columbia University, [Dr. Frank Laubach, 1884-1970] headed to Union Theological Seminary. From there, he went to the Philippines as a missionary to teach at Union Theological Seminary of Manila and to plant churches. Eventually, he and another man were selected as the final candidates for president of Union Theological Seminary in Manila. A vote would decide which one of them would be seminary president. Laubach lost the presidency by one vote–his own. When he was casting his ballot, he thought the honorable thing to do was to vote for the other candidate. When Laubach realized what had happened, he was devastated. He berated himself for having an overly sensitive conscience. He could’ve been president of the seminary. He could’ve done so much good. He blamed himself for the death of his dream.
In this case, the death of his dream meant literacy for 100 million people. It also meant that he’d write many books about life with God and serve as an adviser to heads of state all over the world. I wonder if he believed his dream had been smashed to pieces. Frank Laubach had no idea how God would use the death of his dream for good. There’s no way he could’ve known.
God pays attention to our dreams. Whether he gives us what we desire or implants the desires we have in our hearts, he wants us to know that he cares deeply about those desires. That includes my desire to go to Europe, my desire for the well-being of my family and others, and my desire for all things to be a they should be in the world.
God also has dreams for us. He dreams of us becoming like Christ and knowing that he is always with us. He wants us to believe that he is in the process of making all things new. He wants us to know that he says, “Yes and amen!” to the deepest desires of our hearts, even when we don’t know what those desires are. True, we may not see the fulfillment of all our dreams in this life, but we will see the fulfillment of some–even those ones we’ve never dared to whisper to another. God will fulfill those desires that are in accord with his kingdom, even if it’s in the next life. Of that I am convinced.
Much of our disappointment over unfulfilled dreams is due to our inability to see. We see so little now. We are looking at reality through a peephole. So when I witness the death of my dream, or the dreams of others, and I can’t figure out what God is doing, I have to remind myself that I am looking at reality through a peephole. I have to remind myself that God is doing so many things, that the is interweaving the story of our lives into his grand story. It’s not just my life and my dream. Its about our lives and our dreams. Our story–the story of the people of God.
Even in rereading this I am somehow equal parts challenged and comforted. Are my desires and dreams being conformed to Christ? Am I willing to trust His plan for my life, whether or not I can foresee where He will lead? How wonderful that we serve a God who loves to be intimately involved in our lives. Our God who cares for us.
I have promised before, and I will promise again, I do not review books on the blog halfheartedly. I read a lot. It’s not that I love everything that I read, but I only review what I love. Only a fraction makes it here, so you can trust I strongly believe it’s worth your time. You can purchase A Beautiful Disaster in various forms by following this link: http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/a-beautiful-disaster/344310
Love an author, buy a book!
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Also really loved Beautiful Disaster. Thanks for the other book recommendations.