Redemptive Stories and Coffee Shops

Typically, I'm a non-fiction guy but I needed a little break from theology, economics, and current affairs. I am sometimes hesitant to pick up fiction because I wonder if it will be a waist of time. I tend to question if I will gain any truth from the investment. Thankfully, I have.

A couple of months back I finished a book called A Lesson Before Dying written by Ernest Gaines. While the character development is a bit slow, the narrative as a whole ends up being quite moving. The basic premise revolves around a couple of questions: What makes someone truly a man (human)? Is a person who is sentenced to die (in a short period of time) worth teaching? Is it beneficial to encourage the pursuit of knowledge and personal / spiritual development when the end is immanent? There are numerous spiritual and intellectual implications involved in answering such questions. I definitely enjoyed pondering these ideas while also getting a look into 1940s african american culture in the south.

I also recently finished The Kite Runner authored by Khaled Hosseini. This book is quite good. It engages the ideas of paternal approval, loyalty and betrayal, cultural development, and finding "a way to be good again." The storyline is probably one of my favorites. As a reader you get to peak into Afghan culture as the main character deals with his past and pursues redemption. His faith struggle is apparent throughout. He has a tough time believing in God (Allah in this case specifically) or in the goodness of those who are closest to him. The book is definitely worthwhile exploration.

What I love about both books is that the heroes have major character flaws. They are weak in some form or another. They have troubled pasts and struggle to stand up for what is good and True. Yet, they find a way to reach deep within themselves to not only do what is right but be taught by the folks they encounter along the way. I also like the fact that the stories don't fully resolve. There is closure but not the "happily ever after" that many stories draw in.

It's been enjoyable to find myself being challenged intellectually and spiritually outside of the non-fiction realm. Refreshing is probably the best way of describing it.

My current read is The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It's off to a great start but it's a long one. It will likely take me most of the summer to finish.

In other news, my church's not for profit coffee shop is starting to take shape. I spent a good portion of yesterday helping to keep things moving on the construction / clean up side. Once we get it started I think it will pair nicely with our thrift store downstairs. I need to take some pictures of the progess and post them on here. It's pretty sweet.

That's all for now...
Love All,
Drew

A New Beginning

I have decided to take another shot at writing out my thoughts. It's been quite a while so it should be an interesting experiment. It's a little too late to process right now... Stay tuned.