Synopsis
"White china" is Molly Wolf’s personal shorthand for the kind of religious language and ideas that often seem abstract and daunting. Those of us who don’t know how to break the code of words like hermeneutics are left to struggle in a landscape of abstraction and purity, intimidated and uncomfortable with our ability to handle them. We might mispronounce the words or use them wrongly, and then what would people think of us? They’re pure like white china; we might drop and break them or get them dirty. And they certainly aren’t something we can consume–who can eat china? In this beautifully written collection, Molly Wolf serves up her unique brand of what she calls God-Talk. She takes the language of Christian faith and religion, sets it in the context of her keen observations of everyday experience, and unpacks it, opening it up to make it real and close up and important. Revel in Wolf’s juicy metaphors and rejoice in the fact that she serves up a feast for all those who hunger to eat.
Publishers Weekly
Although she confesses that in her middle age she finds that virtually everything that is spiritually right is messy, Wolf, a Web columnist living in Ontario, Canada, writes about spiritual things with disarming simplicity. Her pithy essays begin with ordinary objects or events, and gently grow to include a spiritual musing or discovery. A disgruntlement over winter evolves into a discussion on God and the natural order of things. Mulling over her cat, Maggie, causes her to think about grace, while a trip to the supermarket spawns a few pages on children and poverty. Like a quality box of chocolates, you can dip in anywhere and come away with something worthwhile to enjoy or chew over. While Wolf, a Christian, is careful to say she does not find all belief systems equally good, she suggests Christianity, Judaism, Islam and other faiths are best evaluated using this rule: By their fruits you shall know them. Her thoughtful essays are rich in description (a ladybug has a burnished, richly red-brown spotted carapace), and often humorous. Although Wolf doesn't shy away from sharing her positions on everything from the war in Iraq to homosexuality, her tone avoids becoming strident. All I can do is to show you how I struggle with belief... maybe that will keep you company in your own struggles. Wolf is a compassionate companion for any spiritual journey. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.