Deep stuff about loss and death - in a novel

I written before about the author William Kent Krueger - his Cork O'Connor series. I like how he mixes a bit of religion and American Indian spiritualism along with good plots. The characters are likable people - ones you'd like to know.

 

So I was interested when I saw in the New York Times that he had a new book out.

 

 

 

Ordinary Grace - that isn't about Cork and family. I picked it up a couple weeks ago and began reading it Sunday. If you know me, you know I buzz through books quickly - faster than I would like really. That's why I enjoy listening to them so much - readers don't skip words. Anyway - I read the important stuff, and this book didn't disappoint - it had some. I'd like to share it with you.

 

The book is set in the viewpoint of a young boy in a Minnesota town in the early 1960's. So I could relate to the way he described life. His father was a minister - very similar to my family. You know - my dad sold undies. (just seeing if you were paying attention).

 

No spoiler alert - but something bad happens, and the Reverend must preach, despite his own personal sorrow and loss. Here is what he said at a funeral:  

I don’t mean to plagiarize – these are the author's words, if not directly quoted, pretty darn near…

What’s left when that which we love most has been taken?

3 profound blessings – in his first letter to Corinthians, Saint Paul tells us: faith, hope and love. These gifts, which are the foundation of eternity, God has given to us.

We have complete control over them – even in darkest night it’s still in our power to have faith. We can still embrace hope. And though we still may feel unloved – we can be steadfast in our love for others and God.

 

God gave us these gifts and he (she? That's me questioning God's sex...) doesn’t take those gifts back. It is we who choose to discard them.

In your dark night I urge you to hold onto your faith, to embrace hope and to bear your love before you like a burning candle – it will light the way.

 

That's the end of my quotes from that section. Powerful stuff, huh?

 

And later - at the end of the book, there is another character who is a fleeting one, not well developed but on the edges. The main character speaks to him about dead people.

The Indian says to him -

They’re never far from us you know. Who?  

The dead. No more’n a breath. You let that last one go and you’re with them again.

 

How true...how true.