"Theology is the study of God and his ways. For all we know, dung beetles may study humanity and our ways and call it humanology. If so, we would probably be more touched and amused than irritated. One hopes that God feels likewise."
(Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking. A Theological ABC. (New York: harper, 1973), page 91.
Ever since Kate introduced me years ago to Frederick Buechner, he has amused and informed me, sometimes reverencing the holy, other times debunking anything even sniffing of spiritual artificiality. He can write like a country western crooner with a gift for folksy theological reflection, but more often as a serious novelist for whom God is the essential character in an as yet unresolved plot, but whose love and mercy drive the story towards completion. He is the best kind of holiday reading - because reading him is like giving your spirit a holiday.
I discoverd Buechner during an extremely stressful time in my life. His writings are filled with wisdom, but are not the usual claptrap of most high minded theologians. I keep amazon busy ordering his books. It seems to me that God still speaks in a still small voice if we listen.
Posted by: Delores Gill | September 17, 2009 at 03:31 AM