I am thinking about writing a book. It would be about my life, my theology and the church. I think that this will give me a lot of material. Last week, I attended a Faith and Writing conference where I listened to writers talk about the craft of writing, and then they read from their books. It was an inspiring and challenging time for my spirit and soul. Most of the authors said that you have to be honest about what you are writing about, and that you must be called to do it for yourself.
There is also an aspect about writing about your own life and your beliefs that is self-indulgent. Many of the authors who wrote about themselves, said it is “really not about me”. On some level that is not true. Of course, you want your story to connect to others’ stories as well. As a reader, you want to say after reading a memoir, that I am not the only person that feels this way. But, if you are going to write your own story, it has to be about “you“. If it not about you, no one will want to read it.
Frederick Buechner is a favourite author of mine. I have been reading him for over thirty years. He is an American and I am a Canadian. He was a Congregational Church minister, and I am Mennonite. He has written over thirty books, both fiction and non-fiction, and I have not written any book, only blogs and newspaper articles. He is almost 90 years old, and I am 57 years of age.
So, if I am to write a book, I would like it to be something like Buechner. He seems to write about himself, his belief system, and the church, in all its bigness. In his non-fiction, he blends these three things all of the time. His writing style is direct and simple, and yet profound. He does not write so that you have to have a dictionary next to you. I am most familiar with his memoirs and sermons, and his novels. I think I have a similar style.
So, where would I begin my book. Maybe I would start with my last sermon, preached on April 10, and tell my life story backwards. I could write about how I have changed my views, in reverse. Or, I could start with my heart attack on November 26, 2007, or my wedding on July 24, 1982. Maybe I should start with my epiphany, in grade 4 Sunday School, that I wanted to be a minister. There was also that summer season of softball, where our team had one win and 23 losses. Another set of memories that is seared in my brain, is the three years that we spent in Thailand working with Indochinese refugees. I saw a man set himself on fire.
My theology began with an angry and judgmental God. I believe more in a God of mercy and compassion, and grace. I began with the Bible as being from heaven, but now I believe the Bible begins with human writers that talk about God, and as we follow it, it becomes divine. I believed the church was perfect, but now I know it is broken and human, because it is made up of broken human beings. And this is fine with me. I thought ministers were good and blessed, but I struggle with the same doubts, fears and anxieties as any other disciple of Jesus Christ.
Where should I start? And should I even start such a self-indulgent exercise? Because it is really about me, my theology and my church. If you would write your story or novel, where would you begin? And why would you want to write it?
I think I will start with Violet Lichty, a former resident of Floradale. She had cats. She had many cats. She had too many cats. I visited her many times at her home, and had coffee and muffins in her kitchen, and the 40 or so cats looked on. She helped save my life…. The story begins.
Fred Redekop
April 20, 2016