Anne Lamott doesn’t believe in pulling any punches — and her many fans love her for it. The celebrated author, political activist and Sunday school teacher has written candidly about her struggles with alcoholism, motherhood, writing and religion. Her knack for being both reverent and irreverent at the same time serves her particularly well in her latest book, Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith (Riverhead), which is both sincere and extremely funny.
In this interview with Mary Hynes for CBC Radio’s Tapestry, Lamott recounts the story of her conversion to Christianity, despite her best efforts to the contrary. She says her parents were intellectuals that equated “Christians with trailer parks” and so Lamott was careful to steer clear of any such doctrine. It was only when in her early 30s and dealing with her own abusive addictions that she finds herself strangely drawn to a little church she begins attending, though making sure to leave before the sermon. She liked that those attending this particular church were motivated peace activists, and eventually began to stay for the whole ceremony — and open up to a whole new way of looking at the world, and at herself.
Listen to Lamott share her thoughts on the power of prayer, laughter and the joys of giving, in this week’s Words At Large podcast.
Originally aired on July 6, 2008. [runs 42:12]
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Comments
I don't think people accept Jesus into their lives because the universe is an intelligent design or because they've had extensive education and make a decision based on the facts. Documenting an actual planet being created and populated in 7 days doesn't persuade anyone either. I dare say God could raise people from the dead and they wouldn't believe they were ever dead. But it’s not hard to convince people all the demons in Hell want them dead. And if you believe in Satan you have to believe in Jesus. One of my earliest memories was of my father beating my mother with a frying pan while us kids watched. My father was a manic-depressive and threatened to kill us if we intervened. I think I was 4 or 5 years old at the time and that night my mother blew out the pilot light in the stove, turned on the gas and crawled in the stove. She would often relate the story to people how Jesus appeared to her and he told her to get out and turn off the gas. Why? Because “Your children need you”, he said. My mother is now 85 years old and recently lost her mind after a cancer surgery. But in her delirium she will still shout out loud, “Glory to God”, over and over again. There’s a sea of suffering and pain all around us and somewhere underneath it is the Holy Spirit, the comforter. Find it and you will live to forgive. That's my story and why I believe in Jesus.
Posted by: Randal | September 10, 2008 11:52 PM
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