cover image WHERE THE LIGHT SHINES THROUGH: Discerning God in Everyday Life

WHERE THE LIGHT SHINES THROUGH: Discerning God in Everyday Life

Wes Avram, . . Brazos, $14.99 (156pp) ISBN 978-1-58743-088-6

Ordinary people, says Yale Divinity School homiletics professor Avram, do not walk around town apprehending God in abstract theological categories. Rather, they sense God—in a birthday party, a miscarriage, a computer meltdown. In this felicitous collection of sermons, Avram reflects on God's presence in the world, prodding his readers to "respond to [God] sensually and personally." Avram's fresh take on even the most familiar biblical passages is illustrated by this musing from chapter five: what if, instead of praying "your kingdom come," we prayed "your economics come"? The sermons are full of illuminating personal anecdotes. One Valentine's Day, for example, a friend showed up at the Avram household with a wonderful dinner for the family in her hands. The lobster dinner was a gift, given with no expectations of reciprocity. A little while later, when another friend asked Avram to send her son a birthday card, Avram groused that he doesn't have time. Then it clicked: the Valentine's dinner was related to the birthday card; they were part of one long chain of gifting. Avram doesn't quite achieve that unanimity of theme and tightness of focus that readers might hope for—the book remains a collection of discrete sermons. But they are wonderful sermons that deserve a wide audience. Fans of Barbara Brown Taylor and Fleming Rutledge will welcome this new voice. (Mar.)