Two and a half years ago, I started writing this column to raise up how I find faith in everyday events and circumstances. You see, to me, it is through everyday moments that the Holy Spirit illuminates the divine. Otherwise, I feel like the conversation gets easily sidetracked by big words like “religion,” “church” and yes, even “God.” All fine words, holy words even, but words that can be intimidating, and possibly even frightening to some.
During these past 132 weekly columns, together we’ve explored finding faith in the outdoors, in confirmation classes, in laughter, in kids growing up, and even in the significant losses of loved ones. Through it all, the central message I consistently hear from readers is: Thank you for exploring faith across the spectrum of the human experience, from mundane daily obligations to the most heartbreaking of developments.
This experience has taught me that we all can use practice in seeing where God is present in everyday life. So I set out to write about this in “Finding Faith in Life’s Beautiful Cracks,” a book that identifies the hope that shows up in the sunsets, in our loved ones, in the pets in our lives, in the jobs that sometimes seem so laborious and yes, even in the times when our hearts are breaking and the world seems like it always and forever will be off kilter.
The book is not a theological treatise, but rather a playbook to help you see God and experience the Holy Spirit in the everyday. A guide that I pray will help you to rethink your relationship with faith and the Creator, whatever that word means to you.
This is not about doctrine or dogma, and may even seem superfluous to the most serious religious academics. But it’s honest and raw, and at the very least, the book is filled with hope.
The book is out now, and is available online; please email me at [email protected] for information about where to order it.
Additionally, the hope is that local bookstores will take an interest in carrying it as well, and a helpful suggestion from you to your favorite book nook would be greatly appreciated!
I owe a debt of gratitude to a great many people who helped make this book possible, and they are acknowledged in it. But let me include one more in this space: You!
Without your encouragement and support these past two and a half years, this book wouldn’t have happened. And for that, I am very grateful! I hope that you find the book as worthy to read as I did to write. And when you’ve finished reading it, hit me up with your thoughts. Thank you, Faith Family!
Devlyn Brooks is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and serves Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He blogs about faith at findingfaithin.com, and can be reached at [email protected].