A review by emilyusuallyreading
Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller

5.0

This book stabbed me in the gut, but it healed more than it hurt. Donald Miller is strikingly honest in this narrative described as "nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality." Personally one of the most significant learning experiences I took from Blue Like Jazz was the story of when Donald Miller watched a woman purchase her groceries with food stamps. He pitied her and wished he could buy her groceries for her so she would not have to face the humiliation of buying anything with the brightly-colored currency. As she walked away with her shoulders sagging, Miller realized that the reason she was humiliated was because he was judging her. As he imagined how he would feel to accept use food steps, he imagined telling everyone around him, "Don't worry. I work hard. I'm doing my best to get out of this slump." Our hearts are proud. Americans like to give charity, but we don't like to be charity; this is why it can be so difficult to embrace the fullness of God's grace. Accepting what Christ done for us is falling to our knees in our brokenness and humiliation accepting charity with absolutely nothing to give in return.

Blue Like Jazz is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Definitely a new favorite.