Adorning the Dark is a great book that is getting quite a bit of buzz right now.. It's a book for the Christian artist. It's a book for the person who is afraid to create. It's a book for the writer. It's a book for anyone who has a creative idea.
I should tell you my story of how I heard the name Andrew Peterson. I saw something on Ann Voskamp's website and clicked on it. I think it was 'Be Kind to Yourself'. I watched it and thought that the lyrics were great.
I started looking him up on Youtube. All kinds of country, bluesy songs. Again, Interesting. The Lyrics were amazing on everything!
Then I heard that he had written children's books. "Hmmm" is what went through my head. I bet those are good.
Sarah Mackenzie had an interview with Andrew Peterson and another author quite a while back. He talked about books. He talked about C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Again, I was curious.
When I heard that he had written Adorning the Dark I ordered it out of curiosity.
I received Adorning the Dark as a Christmas present from myself. I was excited about because I had heard so much about it on Hope Writers.
He has an awfully big subtitle. "Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making". That seemed like an enormously large task for such a small book.
But he does it. All the magic that he packs into a song is there. All the truth, goodness, and beauty you can get. And it wasn't in the form of a song.
Peterson has a personal way of elucidating his points. He is conversational. He is transparent. He is sincere. He is humble. And he is inspiring.
The best thing I can say is that all kinds of writers should read it. Songwriters, essayists, novelists.
What will you get from it?
Well, you are going to get valuable insight into the Christian life. You are going to get valuable insight into the human condition. You are going to get valuable insight into the value of community. Most importantly, you are going to get deep insight into the beauty and power of words.
It's not an academic book, but I know it will be read by many.
There are just so many moments of providence. You also will be saying to yourself, "I needed to hear this!"
"You can't blame your equipment. You can't blame your lack of time. You can't blame your upbringing. Either you're willing to steward the gift God gave you by stepping into the ring and fighting for it, or you spend your life in training, cashing in excuse after excuse until there's no time left, no song, no story" (p. 125).
Conviction is something I felt. Last week I wrote about not being able to sit and plan around New Year's. This convicted me to keep using my gift.
it's also a book for those searching for beauty and truth. Peterson does a great job encouraging us. He tells us we all are creative and we are all made in the image of a Creator God.
It's also a book the defies categories. You are getting a number of his life stories so it is somewhat autobiographical. And he has had quite a life because he said yes to what God what was calling him to do.
Truth, beauty, honesty, encouragement.
And as another amazon review put it, "And thank you Andrew for reminding me that generic store bought chocolate chip cookies are okay now and then, but nothings beats fresh, warm, homemade toll house cookies."
Amen. Go and get the book.
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