Laying Your Soul Bare

As regular readers of the blog will know, I love a good read. I try to intersperse my reading between fiction and non-fiction, and it has been my privilege over the years to get to know some wonderful writers, both in person and through speaking to them on the podcast.

Lent is often a season when people intentionally take some time to read, and I want to take this opportunity to commend some excellent books to you. I always think it takes enormous courage to assemble your thoughts and share them with the world, and the writers I commend this week bear witness to this in extraordinary ways.

Brighid ‘Biddy’ McLaughlin is an artist, a journalist and story teller and, in her recently published memoir, ‘Tales of a Patchwork Life,’ she shares stories of some of the fascinating people she has met over the course of her life and career. She shares very powerful experiences of personal tragedy and deep sorrow, yet undergirds her powerful writing with hope. I have known Biddy for many years and, for a special birthday some years ago, Vicky got me a specially commissioned painting of hers which I love. Biddy is coming to speak in the Grand Central Hotel on Monday 24th March as part of the ‘Imagine Belfast’ festival and tickets can be got via the ‘Imagine Belfast’ website as she shares some stories from ‘Tales of a Patchwork Life’ from 8-9pm. It promises to be a powerful evening.

Sharon Hastings spoke to me on the podcast about her first book, ‘Wrestling With My Thoughts’ (Episode 89) and, last year, I went to the launch of her second book, ‘Tending To My Thoughts.’ She writes so powerfully and honestly about her experience of mental illness and I couldn’t recommend her books highly enough.

Deborah Sloan launches her wonderful collection of essays on 20th March called, ‘Everything I Know About Leaving.’ She spoke to me, also, on the podcast (episode 139), and I am a great fan of her weekly newsletter and blog, ‘Days like this with Deborah Sloan.’ She made a significant life changing decision to leave a senior academic career and become a writer. She writes so truthfully and humorously about her experiences of motherhood, identity, faith and the church. She’s a voracious reader herself and often passes on recommendations. I feel very privileged to have got an advance copy, so keep an eye out for this marvellous collection of essays.

Fiona Spargo-Mabbs shared the story of her son, Daniel, with me on the podcast (Episode 147). Daniel died in January 2014 at the age of 16 after experimenting with drugs at a party. Fiona started a charity called the ‘Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation’ to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs for young people and their parents. Her book, ‘I Wish I’d Known’ – Young People, Drugs and Decisions – A Guide for Parents and Carers’ is so compassionate and wise. Her resolute determination to prevent any harm coming to young people from drugs drives everything she does.

Sarah Yardley is an evangelist, writer and contributor to the Lectio 365 Bible reading App which is listened to daily by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. She spoke to me on the podcast (Episode 133) about her journey of faith and her passion to reach the next generation with the hope and the love of Jesus. As someone who has moved often and impacted many with her passion for the gospel, her little book on ‘Navigating change with an unchanging God’ is a very personal, yet powerful, description of what this has looked like in her own life.

If you read one or all of these books, the common denominator for me is how the writers have laid their souls bare in sharing their experiences. Their words and their lives seem to connect with others because of their honesty. They do not pretend that they have all the answers, they do not romanticise in any way the struggles and tragedies they have been confronted with in their lives. They have a willingness, however, to lay their souls bare and let the reader know what was going on within, and share their experiences in the hope that, somehow, this might help others.

Perhaps, the best Biblical example of this kind of thing is the Book of Psalms, where we see all human emotion expressed. We see the notes of praise and thanksgiving and the deep spiritual questioning – why are these terrible things happening to me, and where is God in the midst of it? There’s all the messiness of human existence captured there, from a yearning to know and love God in a deeper way, to a heartfelt cry to Him to destroy the enemies who are making their life unbearable.

I’m grateful and privileged to have had the opportunity to speak to these wonderful writers, and encourage you to give them a go. You will also find that same honesty, truth and hope amplified in the Book of Psalms in the Bible.

If you are interested in honest stories, why not come along to our midweek Lenten services on Thursday nights? I’ve invited 5 church planters to share what has prompted them to plant churches and try to connect people who have got disconnected from church in very diverse communities across Northern Ireland. Each service is 35 minutes or so, and you can watch them on St. Finnian’s YouTube, if you can’t get along in person.

Don’t forget our youth group meets this Sunday 16th March and next Sunday 23rd March at 11 am in the coffee bar if you are of secondary school age and curious about faith.

There’s a special day of pilgrimage for St Patrick’s Day next Monday 17th March, starting with a service in Saul at 9.15 am, then a prayer walk to Down Cathedral for a festival service at 11.45 am. Buses will take you from the Mall in Downpatrick to Saul from 8 am. It’s always a special day, if you are free.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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