blue like jazz

I was reading Blue Like Jazz the past few days, it’s by Donald Miller, and he basically tells his life-story. Well, at least up to this point, since he is only 36. But it’s really beautifully written.

The sub-title is non-religious thoughts on Christian spirituality. Whether Miller really achieve this is debatable, in the end, whether he want to admit it or not, Miller is still busy with some religion, although then in the wider sense of the word, definitely different from what you’d find in Christian religion generally. Like many others he came from an American fundamentalist backgrounds, and then turned into some kind of emerging thing.

What really strikes me is the amazing honesty with which he writes. I want to use this in our gap-year program, not so much to teach anyone anything, but more to help people in looking at their own stories with honesty. He struggles, but learn through this. He’s not always the nice guy, actually, sometimes he does some pretty stupid stuff, but then tell you about it (OK, maybe this just made him a good-seller, but I still liked it).

Theologically? Well, don’t expect this amazing insights, or this new systematic theological treatise on God, but I don’t think this is what Miller intended. Rather, read it for what it is, one man’s story of spirituality (that which happen between our understanding and experiencing of faith, or, how faith becomes practical in our day to day life). And it’s really inspiring, and very funny. Or else, just read it for being a fine piece of literature (for the Afrikaans reader, he reminded me of Seks, Drugs en Rock & Roll by Koos Kombuis).

Something else. It’s holiday, and although I am working, I also have a lot or spare time. So yesterday I watched Mozart and the Whale, the story of two autistic people falling in love, struggling in relationship, but fulfilling each other in this struggle. It’s a REALLY amazing story. Truly inspiring!!!

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