My Bright Abyss

This is a difficult book to review. I've started and stopped writing multiple times. On one hand, I enjoyed the book immensely. As a Christian, I often find myself dismayed at the quality of religious discourse in the United States today. I feel that the central issues of loving God and loving neighbor- and the complexity that these twin commandments bring into our lives-becomes lost under the glare of a shallow, emotive, prosperity pseudo-gospel that is light on theology and big on selfish optimism. Or it becomes lost in a liberal church looking for respectability through attempting being everything to everyone. That these have become the images of Christianity in the minds of many people pains me because it does not reflect at all the experience I have of God and the Church. It is authors like Christian Wiman who present a nuanced portrait of Christianity that does not simplify its message or does run away from the implications of the Christian worldview. On the other hand, Wiman's essays are sometimes difficult reads. I found the language difficult and had to start and stop essays multiple times. But the difficulty might be because they deal with difficult subjects. Wiman intertwines his poetry, faith, and personal suffering to present us with mediation on the presence of God in the world and through our relationships with others. Though not perfect, the book is well worth your time and effort.