Anne Lamott: she makes me laugh

Have you ever wondered if there are any authentic christians left in this world? Or were there ever any? Well, Anne Lamott is sure one. If you haven't heard of her, you will find a breath of fresh air in her writings. Anne is a liberal christian who hates right wing conservative politics in the US.... so, you've been warned. If that is enough to stop you, read no further. Otherwise, here's what I like about Anne...

I discovered Anne Lamott by accident at the Nuggets Used Book store in Sardis (right beside Windsor Plywood). I bought her book on how to be a writer, Bird by Bird. I had no idea what a treasure this book would be for me. In it, Anne skillfully describes the ins and outs of writing in a style that is compelling, hilarious and persuasive. You have to work very hard to not love a person who can make a "how to" book into a series of life lessons that open up your heart to new worlds.

After Bird by Bird, I became addicted to Anne. She is an author on the somewhat edgy online magazine, Salon.com. I read what I could without a subscription. And then, after a year without one of her books, I picked up her book, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith. I laughed, I cried. I read her short stories out loud to my unsuspecting dragonboat team as they tried to snatch naps between races.

How is it that an author can write about her mother (who hurt her so deeply) and make the reader laugh and cry and laugh all over again? This skilled writer takes you into her heart, connects you with the common thread of humanity and makes it "ok" to be human, to desire more and to put it all into the context of faith in Jesus. She talks about forgiveness without preaching it's benefits - just by sharing her own pain, her own hurt and her own failure at spreading her mother's ashes.

In an honest struggle to express unconditional love, Anne tells of how the Holy Spirit convicts her of her hatred toward George Bush Jr. She enters a journey of "working on loving him". It lasts 2 days. I don't hate George Bush Jr, his presidency doesn't make me want to "quit". And yet, I understand how hard it is to love someone past 2 days if the Holy Spirit isn't doing the loving and changing in my heart.

Someday, I hope to meet Anne. I feel like I know her. She's safe and fun. She's insightful and authentic. She inspires and enlightens. She shows me Jesus from another angle - and because of that, I am a better person.

Have you read any Anne Lamott?
Any other authors that have inspired you through their honest look at life?

sharon