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A review by lory_enterenchanted
Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand by Jeff Chu
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
3.5
A fine spiritual memoir, with touching stories about the author's healing encounters with nature at a "Farminary" that sounds far better than attending the actual Seminary. Some favorite quotes:
"Rage is misery that does not know where else to go."
"reading books about God and sitting through classes about God did not necessarily engender encounters with God."
"telling a new story, that our sins do not have lasting power to break fellowship."
"To be made whole isn't just to have one's physical afflictions removed, it is to be restored to community and returned to relationship."
Particularly in light of those last two, it's heartbreaking that Chu's supposedly Christian parents, especially his father, are unable to accept him or his husband (who sounds like an absolute angel) because of their sexual orientation. Meanwhile, there are Chu's friends who try to tell him he's wrong for still wanting to have a relationship with his parents, for not just cutting them off.
Why not give this book a higher rating? There was something about the writing that disappointed me somehow ... I can't put my finger on it. But overall a lovely book.
"Rage is misery that does not know where else to go."
"reading books about God and sitting through classes about God did not necessarily engender encounters with God."
"telling a new story, that our sins do not have lasting power to break fellowship."
"To be made whole isn't just to have one's physical afflictions removed, it is to be restored to community and returned to relationship."
Particularly in light of those last two, it's heartbreaking that Chu's supposedly Christian parents, especially his father, are unable to accept him or his husband (who sounds like an absolute angel) because of their sexual orientation. Meanwhile, there are Chu's friends who try to tell him he's wrong for still wanting to have a relationship with his parents, for not just cutting them off.
Why not give this book a higher rating? There was something about the writing that disappointed me somehow ... I can't put my finger on it. But overall a lovely book.