Hey Party People. I wanted to drop by to tell you what I have been doing with every ounce of my spare time since yesterday at 8pm MT.
My Mom suggested this book to me, and her description and passion in regards to its content was so inspiring, that our conversation ended with me standing outside the bookstore freezing and telling her I had to go, because I needed to buy the book (and I was freezing).
I am halfway through the book now, and I have to say... Geesh.
If you have never read anything by Brennan Manning... A. You should B. This is very different from his other books. This is his memoir afterall. He is an elderl man in fading health, but seriously... His words are just insane. So wise, so relevant, so honest. His story is one of hypocricy and power. I can't put it down.
I am not going to try and sum it up, because I am not as eloquent as he. You should just read the book.
I will share the intro to it here, so that you will have no choice but to go buy it.
"This book is by the one who thought he'd
be farther along by now, but he's not.
It is by the inmate who promised the parole
board he'd be good, but he wasn't.
It is by the dim-eyed who showed the path
to others but kept losing his way.
It is by the wet-brained who believed if a
little wine is good for the stomach,
then a lot is great.
It is by the liar, tramp, and thief; otherwise
known as the priest, speaker, and author.
It is by the disciple whose cheese slid
off his cracker so many times
he said "to hell with cheese 'n' crackers."
It is by the young at heart but old
of bone who is led these
days in a way he'd rather not go.
This books is also for the gentle ones
who've lived among wolves.
It is for those who've broken free of collar
to romp in fields of love and marriage and divorce.
It is for those who mourn, who've been
mourning most of their lives,
yet they hang on to shall be comforted.
It is for those who've dreamed of entertaining angels
but found instead a few friends of great price.
It is for the younger and elder prodigals
who've come to their senses
again, and again, and again, and again.
It is for those who strain at pious piffle
because they've been swallowed by Mercy itself.
This book is for myself and those who have been around
the block enough times that we dare to whisper
the ragamuffin's rumor -
all is grace."
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
-Philip Yancey
