New Observations

I have decided to take this blog into a different direction - I am so fed up thinking about and wondering about the political mess in our country, I decided that for sanity's sake I would focus on more positive things. More enlightening, more uplifting things, So from henceforth only positive - uplifting and optimistic things will be written. Perhaps not as  profound or argumentative or even controversial, but hopefully, more hopeful.

With that in mind - I recently heard about and read a new book entitled Home to Harmony by Phillip Gulley. It is Christian Fiction, I have always intentionally stayed away from Christian fiction because my few ventures into it led me feeling drained and the theology shallow. Much more focused on the emotional and not enough on the intellectual. Gulley is different. It is entertaining, enlightening and accurate. The story is told from the person of Sam Gardner a Quaker minister in his home town of Harmony. His elaborations and perambulations about the folk of his church are easily transposed into any pew in this country, common folk who struggle, cry, argue and in some sense huddle together when needed. it is a beautiful rendition of the everyday small town life, and the people who make it happen. As I read harmony I was drawn to memories long forgotten from my past when I served as a Pastor of small town, rural communities, his characters were my Johnny's, Emma's, Jane's, and Allen's. His stories were my stories - different settings, but the same. It shows that where ever you are, in Harmony, Greenville, Ware Shoals, Silverstreet, Main street America, people are people. Most are good, some are not. The cream always still rises, and the fodder falls to the floor. 

I highly recommend Home to Harmony to anyone, especially Pastors. It fills the soul with simple poignant moments - tender moments when faith is tested, faith strengthened and family and friends are made stronger. Gulley has sequels to Harmony which I will be getting this weekend. I'll let you know. But I intend to spend the next several weeks learning about this town, and their perambulations about their life.