stumbling toward faith

happy tuesday! some of you know that many bloggers are hosting a virtual book tour for renee altson's new book, stumbling toward faith. it is an amazingly brave story of renee's struggle through abuse in "god-land" towards a renewed faith in jesus. i am so proud to be a part of the tour and to include renee in my circle of friends. i got the book in the mail right before i left for england, and finished it on the plane...it is painful, powerful, and provocative. it isn't sugar coated...it is very real and a valuable resource for youth pastors and all leaders in "god-land".

i was blown away by the power of renee's poetry. so i asked renee how she got started, what she likes best about poetry and how it has helped her in the healing process...

here's renee and my favorite poem from her book:

i have been writing poetry my whole life. i used to think that good
poetry had to rhyme, but i've since come to loathe most rhyming poems.
my favourite poets are adrienne rich and mary oliver. (though i love
to listen to my husband read dr. seuss out loud)

one of the things i especially appreciate about poetry is the way it
conveys so much emotion in so little words. i think part of it is the
formatting -- segmenting thoughts out into chunks seems to make the
thoughts more important, somehow.

in a creative writing class in college, i wrote a bunch of different
types of poems. they were all structured with odd rhyme schemes and
assorted rhythms. it was then i grew to really appreciate sylvia
plath. some of her works are amazing in their structure.

i was so thrilled with the way stumbling toward faith interspersed
poetry and prose. i think there is a great balance and flow throughout
the book and i am grateful for the edginess that was allowed me.

i want a multilayered god.
i want a god of art, of music,
of old icons, of ancient prayers.

i want a god who is able to be
bigger than i can imagine,
a god beyond my comprehensions
and limited definitions.

i want a home.
a place to feel at home,
a safe place,
a refuge
to work out my salvation
with fear and trembling.

a safe place
to be able to risk everything
to surrender everything,
to find that i'm not alone
when those i let go of
crumble in pieces
around me.

(from "stumbling toward faith," p. 166)

you can check out the entire bloggin book tour at

Download stumbling_toward_faith_the_blog.html

and my buddy bob carlton will be hosting renee tomorrow.Download the_corner.html
check out both sights and definitely check out renee's book! (renee also has her own blog...link on the book tour site)thanks again renee for sharing your life with me! lil

Comments

[anj]

renee's poetry amazes me too. i never liked poetry before the last ten years or so, now i find it takes my breath away. and this poem you have highlighted is amazing. thanks for highlighting another aspect of this incredible book.

[renee]

thanks, lilly. the coolest thing was the phone call from you on your way to england -- and then knowing that you left my book with a friend there! ... thanks for both. love, renee

[mary fran]

Hey Lilly!!!!! Thanks for the interview....I am anxious to read Renee's book. I hope you and the family are doing well. I will keep you in my prayers as you strive to do the Labyrinth daily.

Oh, and I LOVE the purple nail polish-mine is purple now too :~)Sorry....just had to throw that "girlie" comment in.