In life is messy, Matthew Kelly writes in a stream-of-consciousness - approximately 75 blurbs ranging from a half page to 3-4 pages on a variety of topics. (This is vastly different from the structure of his recent book I Heard God Laugh). The style subliminally conveys the essence of this book, which is that our lives are not orderly and well-organized, even when we try to obey and serve God. Instead, we live in a crisis reaction state in which crises - whether of our own making or externally instigated - continually steal our attention and decimate our lives. These can either shut us down or be opportunities for growth. The important point is that God is with us in every circumstance, and we need to decide to take one step toward the light when we feel overwhelmed by darkness.
None of this is new. Among others, Kelly quotes Heraclitus regarding character, and a 20th century poem by Portia Nelson, Autobiography in Five Short Chapters. The scope of things that can potentially derail our lives is vast. Kelly relates a few examples of his own, their impact on his life, and his personal struggles to overcome his own meltdowns. Whether thoughtless actions by others, deliberate betrayal by friends or family, personally disastrous decisions, or the occurrence of circumstances without any individual or group intent - our response is a choice. Do we try to fix the problem ourselves, shut down in self-centeredness, or look to God?
The Israel Bible study sheet on Aleph Bet Insights notes that the words for exile (golah) and redemption (geulah) are strikingly similar. The only difference is the presence of the letter aleph which represents God in the word for redemption (geulah). This demonstrates that we must do everything in our ability to bring God into our lives in order to transform exile into redemption.
Comparing this to Roy Hession’s 1950 classic The Calvary Road, the different emphases merit discussion. Hession focuses on a response to brokenness that recognizes and accepts that Jesus is our righteousness and source of life. His challenge is to be willing to have the same disposition as Christ, bending our necks for a Calvary experience so that the power of the blood of the Lamb can have full reign in our lives. Hession goes directly to the ultimate outcome of messes in our lives, in the spirit of James 1:2-4.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
On balance, Kelly’s book is much more accessible, written for the everyday person in crisis, (i.e., all of us). We should not shy away from God’s objective, to perfect us in Jesus, but we are far more likely to need the down-in-the-weeds roadmap on what direction the first step should be. We need to discern the light in the midst of darkness, and take a step in that direction.
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