I haven’t been nervous to read a book in a long time. I actually worried I might be too disillusioned to enjoy this one- it’s been a tough few years oI haven’t been nervous to read a book in a long time. I actually worried I might be too disillusioned to enjoy this one- it’s been a tough few years of spiritual recalibration and I wasn’t sure how I would connect with the story. However, God Who Became Bread was grittier than I expected and I was drawn right in. Emily T. Wierenga’s memoir navigates deep hunger, the strangeness of the Eucharist (it was a relief to hear someone else talk about this), astonishing miracles, disappointment and even betrayal. At one point in the story, Emily describes (literally and figuratively) handing over the steering wheel, at which point her future is uncertain. This one of many anecdotes in the book which reminded me of the importance of placing one foot in the front of the other when pursuing a vision/mission, without necessarily seeing the whole picture. God Who Became Bread brings to life these stories of inspiring, ‘normal’ people stepping out in faith and obedience.
I also enjoyed the vivid imagery woven throughout the story from Emily’s travels with The Lulu Tree ministry. The descriptive food passages and rich symbolism were a real literary treat. I underlined far too many quotes while reading to include them all here, but I’ll close with two favourite excerpts from a chapter near the end of the book. Emily shares:
“I’m learning a new kind of Christianity. One that smells like sweat and laughs a bit too loud”.
“God’s holy love holds me, like the earth holds a seed”.
For me- a disheartened, somewhat bruised up member of the Body these days- this feels like a perfect place to start....more
This account of Shannon Harris’s journey “down the rabbit hole” into a traditional evangelical church manages to be devastating, bitingly funny, and bThis account of Shannon Harris’s journey “down the rabbit hole” into a traditional evangelical church manages to be devastating, bitingly funny, and beautifully descriptive all at once. I found echoes of my own church experiences in Shannon’s story- some that had perhaps been forgotten or I hadn’t been able to find words for. Shannon, thank you for taking a risk and going “all in” (again) to give us this stunning piece of work. I know that a book this honest can’t have been easy to write, but it’s one that is going to stay with me for a long time....more
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