What was the last memoir you read?
Stories have power. Some of us can default to merely reading didactic how-to books. A memoir invites us to slow down. The writer provides the opportunity for us to ask the same questions; see what they see; and ultimately through their lens, we can relate to our own growth and spiritual formation.
I wanted to share with you four memoirs that have become meaningful to me. You might want to add these books to your reading list:
From the Hood to the Hill by Chaplain Barry Black
In college, I had the opportunity to meet Chaplain Barry Black. Chaplain Black serves as a spiritual advisor to the Senate in Washington D.C. His story navigates through growing up in the inner city Baltimore with a mother who sacrificed for his education. I cherished Chaplain Black’s story because the person that I met in person matched to the person in the book.
Seth Haines details his battle with alcoholism and wrestling with the silence of God. The memoir is written in a journal style. Seth’s story reminds us of our brokenness and darkness we face. It also gives us hope by seeing the grace God offers by the support of other people and the healing that comes in our own recovery.
How to Fix a Broken Record by Amena Brown
Amena Brown creatively writes her story interweaving songs and insights on life. She shares about her complicated upbringing with the relationships with her family, details meeting her husband, and her fascinating experience in calling and vocation. I came to appreciate Amena’s wisdom through each chapter and her willingness to engage difficult topics with grace and courage.
Even in Our Darkness by Jack S. Deere
A friend recommended Jack Deere’s memoir to me this year. The power of Deere’s memoir results from the raw tragedies in his life and the misplaced spiritual ambition as a professor and pastor. At the end of this book, I came to a more profound sense of God’s grace. Deere authentically brings us into his story with the ultimate purpose of us seeing hope in the midst of darkness.
What memoirs have significance in your life? Share them in the comment section below.
Photo by Aleyna Rentz