"To Own a Dragon" and a word or two about life without rules.

I didn't warn anyone this one was coming, but it got to the top of my reading pile and just kinda of leaped into my hands ... and then I couldn't put it down.

Donald Miller is one of my favourite authors these days.

Between the verbal ADD of "Blue Like Jazz" and the depth of "Searching for God Knows What" there's his marvellous way of communicating life - and life-lessons - in "Through Painted Deserts" (previously published as "Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance") and now this easily digestible treatise about boys growing up without a father's input "To Own a Dragon", focused on how maybe God "as father" fits into that picture.


But don't be fooled into believing this isn't for girls or women or guys whose dads were around. There's so much universal truth told - in Don's inimicable simple, straightforward, often ROFL funny style. Man, I wish I could write like this!

In general, though, I love Don's approach to life as a Christian. Here's a special quote from his website donmillerfans.net that puts into words - in a way anyone can understand - what it must mean to approach life as a Galatians Christian:

I am not a “how” guy in any way. this is a constant criticism of my work, because so many want steps on how to live based on my perceptions. i’d rather live in the tension than have the false comfort that i am “doing life right.” for what ever reason, i perceive “steps” and “points” as a mental trick, to get me to “do” something so i can feel like I actually understand an issue, rather than grapple with the tension the actual question entails.

Wow! Think about that. 'Tain't simple. But it sure is profound.

PS ... I'm heavily in to Lamin Sanneh's "Whose Religion is Christianity". Deep. Brainy. Such a different approach. Stay tuned ...