Try as I might, I can’t get the traffic on WordPress that I can on Blogger, so I have decided to return to the original Singing in the Wood.
Tearing Down the Shack
The little article below was published (by a company no longer in found online) back in 2009 in a response to Young’s book. While the motion picture adaptation was pretty popular back in 2017, I haven’t seen it yet. While it’s possible it could be better than the book…I just can’t bring myself to devote any more time.
I was looking forward to reading William Young’s bestseller The Shack, as I had heard positive reviews from both friends and family. Perhaps most importantly, though, the tale is set in the beautiful Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon, an area known as “America’s Little Switzerland.” It’s a remote and picturesque region of pristine wilderness covering thousands of square miles and including both the Eagle Cap Wilderness and the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Ever since I first ventured into the Wallowas (pronounced Wul-OW-wuhs) some years ago, the region has captured my imagination. When I picked-up the The Shack while on vacation in Dallas, I was looking forward not only to a good read, but to rich descriptions evoking the unique imagery of this corner of the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, I quickly encountered one serious theological error after another–and a surprising number of editorial errors. The problem, however, is that one has to frequently read the book with a critical eye in order to catch the significance of many of the problems. Sadly, there is not space to address everything I would like–from the feminine representations of God the Father to the editorial problem with narrative and perspective with regards to Mack’s recognition of the shack–there isn’t enough space to address everything. This review will provide more than a half dozen solid reasons why it’s definitely time to tear down The Shack, a rambling sermon in the guise of a story, and why it’s important to take a stand against the modernism so clearly evident in books like this.
First of all, some mistakenly categorize this book as allegorical fiction, but that genre doesn’t quite fit. While we may passionately disagree with the author’s message, what you see is what you get; there is no hidden meaning or carefully nuanced language. The author himself classifies the story as more along the lines of a parable or metaphor, which seems accurate enough. For those fortunate enough to have avoided a visit to the shack, the plot is relatively simple. Mack (Mackenzie) Phillips is a lukewarm Christian father whose young daughter Missy is kidnapped from a family camping trip to Lake Wallowa. This takes place four years before the story begins.
After the kidnapping, her father stays behind and works with law enforcement in an effort to locate Missy. Information comes to light that suggests that she has been kidnapped by a serial killer, and a tip sends Mack and the searchers speeding to a remote shack in the wilderness.
There, they find only blood stains and Missy’s discarded clothing. So begins a painful period in Mack’s life that is called “The Great Sadness.” The more Christ-centered life of Mack’s wife, Nan, is exemplified by the familiar term of “Papa” she uses when talking about God. Fast forward those years ahead to a wintery day alone at Mack’s remote home, and he is surprised to receive a note in his mailbox from Papa. It suggests they get together at “the shack,” which he recognizes as the same place where his daughter’s bloodied clothing was found. He makes a visit and finds God waiting for him. God the Father is represented as a jovial, if stereotypical, African American woman who goes by the name Papa. While Christ is portrayed as a Jewish carpenter, and the Holy Spirit is described as Sarayu, a petite Asian woman. Without disclosing any spoilers for those who might care, the rest of the story is made up mostly of the dialogue between Mack and the three persons of the Trinity as they discuss elements of faith and life.
An Editorial Rat’s Nest
When it comes to most good fiction, an author’s theological errors can often be overlooked as we concentrate on the story itself. In The Shack, however, the theology is too much of an integral part of the tale to be ignored. There are also a number of less important, but still significant, editorial problems with the book. Since editorial errors often offer a glimpse into the overall quality or credibility of a work, it’s important to give these some attention before moving on to more serious concerns. To begin with, the author has made the mistake of creating a story solely as a mechanism to spread his brand of theology. As a fiction writer myself, most good writers would agree that this is a serious mistake; the story should always come first. To do otherwise, does a disservice to the reader. This emphasis on the story above all else rings particularly loud and clear in a collection of essays penned by C.S. Lewis concerning the art of writing and the power of myth entitled Of Other Worlds. In regards to the other English and editorial errors throughout The Shack, the author would do well to remember the writing rule “show, don’t tell” as well as the need to avoid the passive voice. There is also a huge reliance in this story upon cliches, repetitive use of words like “relationship,” and dialogue that fails to ring true–all of which seriously harm the movement and originality of the narrative.
One of the more interesting editorial errors concerns the perspective of the narrative and the title itself. On page 61, the descriptive term “shack” is introduced by the narrator, but it’s not expressed in dialogue or other means in such a way that the main character (Mack) would have picked it up. In other words, the term is known only to the narrator and reader. When Mack receives the note referring only to the shack, how is he supposed to know which one? Anyone who is familiar with this part of Oregon knows that there are many shacks and cabins sprinkled throughout the Blue Mountains. Granted, there is a mention in the introduction that Mack was somehow involved in writing the narrative, but this really doesn’t go far in excusing this type of sloppiness.
Forgiveness and Free Will
A central theme of the story is the nature of forgiveness, but there is also confusion here. The following sentence of dialogue, which concerns a discussion between Mack and Papa about Missy’s murderer, gives us an insight into the problem. “When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgement, but without true change, no real relationship can be established.” Although, there is a degree of ambiguity in this quote, one key error is the assertion that our forgiveness in some way binds God. By forgiving the person, Mr. Young suggests that we are removing the obligation or necessity for that individual to seek forgiveness for himself, to actually be repentant–at least in terms of judgement if not the “relationship”. If this were true, however, it would cancel our free will. We would be forgiven and removed from judgement without having to express any degree of remorse or repentance. The Catechism of the Catholic Church eloquently explains the true nature of repentance in the paragraph below.
1431 Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. At the same time, it entails the desire and resolution to change one’s life, with hope in God’s mercy and trust in the help of his grace. This conversion of heart is accompanied by a salutary pain and sadness which the Fathers called animi cruciatus (affliction of spirit) and compunctio cordis (repentance of heart).
While our Lord calls us to forgive all those who do us harm (seventy times seven), our forgiveness in and of itself is not sufficient for the person who sinned against us. There must be repentance on that person’s part, since we can’t force someone to confess his sin and repent. It must be an act of the individual’s own free will. I will venture, however, that our forgiveness of the person combined with prayer may go a far in becoming a tool of God’s grace within the life of the particular sinner. And, since we are all sinners, this serves to remind us all the more of the need to “forgive those who trespass against us.” Our very spiritual lifeblood depends on this. After all, as we forgive, so will we be forgiven.
Universalism
In a book which aims to stare unblinkingly at the ugly face of pain and suffering, it’s interesting to note that neither Satan nor the devil are ever mentioned in this tale. There is, in fact, nothing in the book which would convict us of anything. Guilt and conscience are likewise ridiculed in favor of the vague “relationship.” For illustration, see the concluding paragraphs of the twelfth chapter. Incredibly, the author has the following words said by Christ.
Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans, and many who don’t vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions. I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous…. I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved.
Before jumping into the critique, it is important to note the answer that Mack receives when he then asks Christ whether “all roads lead to you?” Jesus’ answer is that “most roads don’t lead anywhere.” So, again there is an element of inconsistency or ambiguity present in the narrative. The reason probably has more to do with the editing efforts of WindBlown Media than anything else. I suspect that they were attempting to obfuscate things just a bit in order to deflect just this kind of criticism, but this is just my opinion.
First of all, the passage quoted above is not referring to those, who by no fault of their own, have not heard the saving message of the Gospel; that’s a whole another issue. The central argument of the author is indeed that there are many paths to Christ. This, of course, runs counter to Scripture and Tradition. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
The Deity and Most Perfect Example of Christ
One of my strongest criticisms of this book is the manner in which it attacks the deity of Christ. The term “hypostatic union” reminds us of the two perfect natures of Christ: the Divine and the human mysteriously present within one person. If we dare separate the perfectly unified natures of Christ, we do so at our soul’s own peril. As we read below from Philippians 2:5-8, He is, at once, all man and all God.
Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
This most certainly is not the Christ of The Shack. Instead, Mr. Young has Papa observe in chapter six that “Jesus, as a human being, had no power within himself to heal anyone.” The author is attempting to carve up the natures of Christ, re-creating the Creator, and dismissing the deity of Christ, man and God.
With all the tangents and conversational digressions the author asks the poor reader to patiently endure, it’s also important to briefly note the omission of Mary. Given the “down home” nature of life in the shack some mention of Mary would seem to fit into the conversation. After all, in Jesus’ time there was actually this idea of honoring your father and mother. Is she just a vessel to be used and then forgotten? Because, reading between the lines, that appears to be one of this author’s many misguided little messages.
Symbolic Incongruity
The reader too frequently encounters sections that convey unclear or contradictory meanings. An excellent example of this kind of bewildering writing is found when Jesus washes Papa’s feet. For purposes of contrast, let’s start with reading from John 13:2-10.
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”
The profound message of this passage is one of the teacher or master lowering himself to wash the feet of his disciples. It teaches the lesson of humility and servanthood, demonstrating that the necessity to strive to place ourselves last. The strength and symbolism of the message, however, hinges upon the juxtaposition of roles: the teacher serving his disciples. Contrast this clear meaning with the strange and disturbing ambiguity of Mr. Young’s following prose from the opening paragraphs of the seventh chapter.
Sarayu had already started wiping the goop from the floor and cupboards, but Jesus went straight to Papa and, kneeling at her feet, began to wipe off the front of her clothes. He worked down to her feet and gently lifted one foot at a time, which he directed into the basin where he cleaned and massaged it. “Ooooh, that feels sooo good!” exclaimed Papa, as she continued her tasks at the counter.”
From a deep and critical examination of any literary merit of the preceding passage, one word comes to mind: weird. Besides coming across as just a bit creepy, the narrative loses any shadow of the meaning or depth found within John’s Gospel because it fails to describe a relationship of unequals. Since it sheds no light on the Trinity, nor does it expand upon our knowledge of God or man, we’re left scratching our heads as to what precisely the author is attempting to convey. One thing is for certain, however, whatever he’s trying to tell us, it’s a message best unheard.
The Trinity
Part of the challenge in analyzing exactly what’s wrong with The Shack in regards to its trinitarian message is that there exists a certain inconsistency within the spiritual universe created by the author. Still, there is a definite leaning in the narrative towards Modalism or Sabellianism, which makes the heretical error of understanding the Trinity as three faces or modes of God as opposed to the three distinct persons of the Trinity. As Catholic Answers put it, “He [a Libyan priest named Sabellius] claimed there is only one person in the Godhead, so that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all one person with different “offices,” rather than three persons who are one being in the Godhead, as the orthodox position holds.” It is important that we don’t confuse Modalism with an interesting theological term called communication of idioms. As Dr. Scott Hahn points out in his wonderful book entitled Hail, Holy Queen, this rule is what allows us to confidently call Mary the Mother of God. It’s saying that Christ’s two natures both reflect pure Truth. Whether they are human or divine attributes, they are all dimensions of the true nature of Christ Himself. It is by this principle that we may make statements such as God fell while carrying the cross, since God and Jesus are one.
One of the most telling passages concerning Modalism is found in the sixth chapter of The Shack.
Papa didn’t answer, only looked down at their hands. His gaze followed hers and for the first time Mack noticed the scars in her wrists, like those he now assumed Jesus also had on his. She allowed him to tenderly touch the scars, outlines of a deep piercing, and he finally looked up again into her eyes. Tears were slowly making their way down her face, little pathways through the flour that dusted her cheeks.
In passages such as the one quoted above, Mr. Young is going further than simply blurring the lines between the persons of the Trinity; he is, I would suggest unknowingly, re-making the Trinity in the form suggested by Sabellius and his third century followers. It may further help to briefly quote from Saint Mehtodius’ Oration on the Psalms in regards to his response to this heresy.
For the kingdom of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is one, even as their substance is one and their dominion one. Whence also, with one and the same adoration, we worship the one deity in three persons, subsisting without beginning, uncreated, without end, and to which there is no successor. For neither will the Father ever cease to be the Father, nor again the Son to be the Son and King, nor the Holy Ghost to be what in substance and personality he is. For nothing of the Trinity will suffer diminution, either in respect of eternity, or of communion, or of sovereignty
For book which rails against religious authority, it’s amusing in one sense that so much of an attempt is made at explaining the mysterious nature of The Trinity. The Trinity, after all, is not a belief made clear in a literal reading of Scripture; it is the result of Tradition and the Church. In other words, the author is indirectly attacking his own argument, since he is relying upon Tradition and the Fathers of the Church for our acceptance of the Trinity in the first place. In fact, when the author says through a character that evil is the absence of good, he is also borrowing the argument of Saint Augustine. So, he attacks the Church and Tradition, while at the same time, he becomes a Cafeteria Protestant, swiping little bits and pieces from here and there–as long as it satisfies his preconceived notions of God and “Her” nature.
Authority and the Church
One of the central themes of The Shack is to take, as its publisher Windblown Media puts it, “…a harsh look at how many of our religious institutions and practices have blinded people to the simple Gospel and replaced it with a religion of rules and rituals that have long ceased to reflect the Lord of Glory.” The word relationship (which will be hard for me to read without grimacing for a while) conveys all that is important, as far as the author is concerned, between man and God. This is another case of a piece of truth being stretched to conceal the lie. The truth, of course, is that we should all strive for a closer relationship with our Savior. While Catholics view conversion as a work in progress, many do point to a particular moment where there lives turned and changed course to follow Christ, a second conversion. This pursuit of Christ entails a relationship, but that only tells part of the story. Let’s first take a look at the author’s message as it comes into focus in these words from Papa in chapter 16.
Papa spoke gently and reassuringly . “Son, this is not about shaming you. I don’t do humiliation, or guilt, or condemnation. They don’t produce one speck of wholeness or righteousness, and that is why they were nailed into Jesus on the cross.”
A couple chapters earlier Sarayu describes rules as only having “power to accuse.” So, as we can see, there is no love lost between Mr. Young and any dimension or form of religious authority. The problem is that when we dismiss authority and conscience, we are left with a vacuum. Because what is missing is the true nature of a relationship. That is, relationships are not without work, trials, and sacrifice. Look at the hard effort involved in making a marriage successful, for example. Do we say there are no rules with regards to how we treat our spouse, no expectations of conduct? As James reminds us in James 1:22, we must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
There are expectations and boundaries within relationships, and this is precisely what the author ignores as he attempts to mold God in the image of man. Look at the simple message of John 14:15. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Another passage that reflects the reality of the eternal relationship for which we were made is 1 John 5:1-4.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the Father loves also the one begotten by him. In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.
As I wrote in This Rock a couple of years ago, our story of conversion or enrichment to the fullness and beauty of the Catholic Church from the Protestant tradition had a great deal to do with the authority and sure-course of the Catholic Church. It was C.S. Lewis, for instance, who saw the dangers so clearly facing the Anglican Church and wrote his stirring essay entitled “Fern-seed and Elephants.” We were present in the Episcopal Church at the time a practicing homosexual named Gene Robinson was ordained bishop of New Hampshire and the denomination began to weaken and break. This is not the unity called for Christ in verses such as John 17:11. In order to have unity and avoid heretical teaching, authority is a prerequisite. In light of Mr. Young’s methods of biblical interpretation, a particularly good example at this point would concern sola scriptura. Does the Holy Spirit lead different denominations in opposite directions concerning the same Bible passage? The answer clearly is no, so this means that not everyone can be right. This is the shepherding role of God-given authority, and this role is entirely misunderstood by Mr. Young.
The last straw for this reviewer was a section towards the end of the book where Mr. Young essentially mocks the Eucharist (and the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John). “Without any ritual, without ceremony, they savored the warm bread and shared the wine and laughed about the stranger moments of the weekend.” I’d agree with Chuck Colson and James Dobson of Focus on the Family who both have come out publicly against this book and its message. Whether you ever pick-up this book, or not, its mistakes are a reflection of the errors of our own time. It’s modernism’s answer to the question of God. Sadly, like The Shack, modernism has no real answer. That’s why we must be ready to articulate our faith and discern biblical and theological errors.
A Welcoming Place for the Catholic Family
34 And the Lord said to Moses, “Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (of each shall there be an equal part), 35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy; 36 and you shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you; it shall be for you most holy.” (Exodus 30:34-37)
Sometimes it’s hard to find a Catholic store–online or brick and mortar–when you need one. When we were preparing to join the Catholic Church in 2005, I remember combing through Catholic bookstores around the area trying to find either books or other items to help us along on our journey. With stores closed now due to COVID19 pandemic, online resources have become a particularly welcomed option. When I was recently asked to review some items from HolyArt.com, I jumped at the opportunity to discover another online source to support our Catholic life, the Church Militant (referring to the the the Church on Earth).
I’ve always been fascinated with the scents associated with faith and religious tradition. After my own first confession, for instance, I felt an inexplicable breeze of forest air, full of fragrant pine. The Catholic and Orthodox traditions after all are ones that acknowledges and embrace all of our senses of touch, sight, sound, and smell. Coming from the Protestant tradition, I was probably the least familiar with the scents associated with liturgical services. Bringing these marvelous smells and atmospheres into the home is a way of reminding us of what it means to be present within the Mass. As an icon of a saint may serve a similar purpose as a photograph of a loved one, incense can evoke powerful memories as well. It also serves to remind us of the mystery and sheer unknowableness of our Creator.
Besides ordering a new lighter and charcoal, I selected a number of different incense varieties for my first HolyArt order; I was delighted with the items I received. The pine and rose incense types are likely my favorites, but all of the ones I have tried so far have been truly lovely and aromatic. They seem particularly high quality. Next time, I’m interested to sample Greek Cinnamon incense. Watching Easter Mass from home is going to be difficult this year…but perhaps having some high quality incense on hand will make it a little easier to weather this passing storm. It will help to remind us of what we are truly missing, and what we will experience again soon as a parish family.
I hope you are as pleased with HolyArt as I was. Please don’t hesitate to share your experiences!
DIY Hand Sanitizer
Be sure not to use the highest percentage of alcohol available!
COVID-19 Safeguards
The short essay below is courtesy my father, Phil Erickson.
The Covid-19 coronavirus has been confirmed to pass through water droplets in the air. There is no data confirming it spreading by contact with infected surfaces. Also there is no data on how long it can survive on surfaces. However, keeping surfaces free of the virus could be an important way to help prevent its spread. Here are some resources for information on sterilizing surfaces.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a list of disinfectants to protect against the spread of the coronavirus. According to the EPA, products on the list have “qualified for use against COVID-19” through the agency’s Emerging Viral Pathogen program where manufacturers provide the EPA with data that “shows their products are effective against harder-to-kill viruses.” Coronaviruses are what are called enveloped viruses, “meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant product,” the EPA says. “Using the correct disinfectant is an important part of preventing and reducing the spread of illnesses along with other critical aspects such as hand washing,” EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a news release. “EPA is providing this important information in a public and transparent manner on disinfectant products to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that for “disinfection, diluted household bleach solutions, alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants should be effective.” The CDC also mentioned another list with EPA-approved “emerging viral pathogens claims” from the American Chemistry Council Center for Biocide Chemistries. Many of the same products from the EPA list also are on the list.
The American Chemistry Council’s Center for Biocide Chemistries posted a list of disinfectants referred to as “fighting products” at Americanchemistry.com , which the website said were pre-approved by the EPA and “for use against emerging enveloped viral pathogens and can be used during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.” The website said it was providing the information as a “public service,” but notes the list is “not exhaustive” but can be used to “identify products suitable for use against COVID-19.” Find the here .
Here are some of the registered disinfectants on the EPA’s list:
- Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
- Clorox Commercial Solutions
- Clorox Disinfecting Spray
- Clorox Multi-Surface Cleaner + Bleach
- Klercide 70/30
- Lonza Formulation
- Lysol Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner
- Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist
- Lysol Heavy-Duty Cleaner Disinfectant Concentrate
- Oxycide Daily Disinfectant Cleaner
- Peak Disinfectant Wipes
- Peroxide Multi Surface Cleaner and Disinfectant
- Peroxide Disinfectant and Glass Cleaner
- Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes
- Sani-Prime Germicidal Disposable Wipe
- Sani-Prime Germicidal Spray
- Find the full list here:
- https://www.americanchemistry.com/Novel-Coronavirus-Fighting-Products-List.pdf
The Clorox Bleach company has this advice:
- Pre-wash surface.
- Mop or wipe with a solution of 1/2 cup of Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach per gallon of water (this is one ounce per quart, or a ratio of 1:32.)
- Allow solution to contact the surface for 5 minutes.
- For items that come in contact with food or mouths (like baby bottles or toys), rinse with warm water and let air-dry.
A Conversation with John Carroll Collier
This latest podcast from Sounds and Words explores the life and stunning work of John Carroll Collier, religious sculptor, fine artist, and illustrator. As the creator of the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero in New York City and the artist behind so many acclaimed works–both religious and secular–I believe that John Collier is arguably one of the greatest living visual artists. Of course, being his son-in-law, it’s remotely possible…that he is still one of the greatest living artists. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy today’s show!
In order to help further illuminate the conversation, I am sharing some of the images, books, and artists mentioned in this afternoon’s conversation. First of all, for more information on the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero, please visit Saint Peter’s Church followed by John Bergstrom’s website called hillstream. As mentioned in the interview, some of John’s favorite artists include Giacomo Manzù, Edgar Degas, Paul Cezanne, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, as well as Picaso’s etchings. The Borghese Museum and Vatican Museum were also briefly mentioned.
I mentioned in the podcast that one of my favorite artists has to be Caravaggio after visiting the Vatican Museum and Galleria Borghese in 2017. The book mentioned in our conversation was Caravaggio: A Life Sacred and Profane by Andrew Graham-Dixon. The painting we discussed is below.
A Good Review is (sometimes) Hard to Find
With state government retirement only a handful of years away now (unless I move into something where I might consider hanging around longer), I’ve started applying for writing positions that would be practical as I transition into my retirement years. One of these recent job opportunities, a remote writing position with a London news company, received a particularly lighthearted application from me last week. After sending it, I realized that it illuminated more than I realized about where I am right now, and where I’d like to go. Let’s just say writing remains important to me, but it is a little challenging to make progress when so few people see your books.
You see, the challenge is that perfectly good books (like yours truly’s contributions) tend to disappear in the Amazon rankings if they don’t see activity after a lapse of time. While it’s great to hear from readers about how much one of my books meant to them, it might be even better if they would consider a little review; Amazon is a particularly great place to begin. It’s not just me, though, all authors appreciate reviews. If you have other favorite living authors, consider giving their works a public review on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. They’ll really appreciate your time and effort, and your review really makes a difference in helping new writers get the audience they need to make inroads with their works.
To that end, I thought I’d share a friendly reminder that I do still have available titles out there on the web that would benefit from your honest and thoughtful reviews. (In fact, did you know that over time, old reviews actually have a way of disappearing on Amazon? I have lost two or three over the past couple years.) In order of my own personal preference, what follows is a list of my available children’s books, followed by books for older readers. The first two books: Tristan’s Travels and Toupee Mice, are my current books for children. They are lovingly illustrated by my beautiful wife, Kimberly Erickson.
For anyone who has lived in Astoria, Oregon – for anyone who has watched animals read – for anyone who has or hasn’t wanted an adventure, Karl Erickson’s beautifully illustrated, lovingly written fable about the life and particularity of a seagull named Tristan is a worthwhile journey! –Sean Astin, actor and short-time resident of Astoria, Oregon, in 1984
The Blood Cries Out, inspired by a true story from Eastern Oregon, is my first mystery novel (for older readers). It’s based primarily between Seattle and Friday Harbor, and it follows a detective’s exploration of who he truly is through living the experience of nightmarish murder investigation. Beginning in darkness the tale ends with light and hope for the protagonist and his future–as well as our own. This book took years to research, involving trips to Seattle and Washington State’s San Juan Islands, as well as critically important interviews.
In other books, I have an experimental collection of short stories entitled Starlight and Fractured Shadows. It is currently available only as an ebook, and it includes works in a number of genres: science fiction/horror, fantasy, mystery and suspense, and even a western. As it begins to gather reader feedback, I’ll decide whether, or not, to expand upon any of its stories. If you’re looking for a quick read & review, this collection will be free to download on Valentine’s Day! (This novel recently received a revised edit.)
As a nature photographer, it’s always been my goal to do more with my photos. To this end, I created two “electronic coffee table books” within an Oregon, my Oregon series: Mt. Jefferson Wilderness and The Wallowas. Part of the challenge with these two titles was to add quality photos without increasing the cost exponentially. After doing a simple revision and ebook format correction last year, for example, the price refused to return to .99. This is the challenge of dealing with high resolution images in Kindle format. For your reading pleasure, both of these titles will be free to read over Valentine’s Day weekend.
Please bear in mind that self-published titles, which include the last three eBooks, are generally not quite as polished as something you might pick up at the corner bookstore, but I think you’ll find these three eBooks relatively error free in terms of both formatting and English usage. If you find errors, feel free to e-mail me at karl@karlerickson.com .
While not directly related to the photo books, here are two videos about the beautiful areas described in the books.
Christianity Today’s (Dec 2019) Trump Editorial
All of us here understand an eternal truth: Every child is a precious and sacred gift from God. Together, we must protect, cherish, and defend the dignity and the sanctity of every human life.
When we see the image of a baby in the womb, we glimpse the majesty of God’s creation. When we hold a newborn in our arms, we know the endless love that each child brings to a family. When we watch a child grow, we see the splendor that radiates from each human soul. One life changes the world – from my family, and I can tell you, I send love, and I send great, great love – and from the first day in office, I have taken historic action to support America’s families and to protect the unborn.
And during my first week in office, I reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy and we issued a landmark pro-life rule to govern the use of Title X taxpayer funding. I notified Congress that I would veto any legislation that weakens pro-life policy or that encourages the destruction of human life.
At the United Nations, I made clear that global bureaucrats have no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that protect innocent life. Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House.
As the Bible tells us, each person is wonderfully made.
Excerpt of President Trump’s Remarks at 2020 March for Life (Courtesy Lifesite News)
The recent Christianity Today editorial might have elicited similar feelings from a certain group if it had suggested the immediate banning puppies and kittens. Yet, as a conservative Republican and Catholic convert from the Evangelical tradition for more than a decade, I have a hard time seeing what all the fuss is about—on both sides of the Christian spectrum. I suggest part of the issue might be that we unconsciously see ourselves still as that city on a hill, a country set apart for great things. Perhaps we will be again, but we’ve been sacrificing just over half a million unborn children each year upon Moloch’s bloody altar. (In case you’re wondering, that’s about twelve abortions for every one thousand births.) Back before World War II, perhaps there was something of a Manifest Destiny, but I don’t particularly have that sense in the world today.
I suggest it’s almost as if we are living in two entirely different worlds here. In one world, courtesy, respect, and civility are of the utmost importance. People in this camp at least put on a fine show of demonstrating compassion for others. In the other world, people like me see a world dissolving into chaos, entropy, and cruelty; only the thinnest veneer of artificial sanity exists at all. Good is called evil, and evil is called good. (Our own pope seems to be preaching this week against evangelization and proselytizing of the unbeliever, effectively declining the Great Commission with a polite shake of his head.) This veneer, so critically important to some, is ignored as largely meaningless and irrelevant by the rest of us. We ignore it because we see reality as something in continual freefall towards a dark future. Christ’s return is the only remedy.
If one reads the Beatitudes, and then considers President Trump, it is not an easy task to find parallels. His behavior is frequenlty atrocious, and he’s not necessarily a man many of us would invite beyond the threshold of our homes. Why do we not actively oppose him? The question to explore is whether this amounts to hypocrisy or something altogether different. I am not sure who it was who declared we should only have fine, upstanding, and morally right people in positions of national authority. Look at FDR, for instance. His Executive Order 9066 led to the internment of over a hundred thousand innocent Japanese Americans. President Clinton lied about sexual relationship with an intern, a fundamental abuse of authority and shaming of the office. Examples of hideous men who still worked towards the common good of our nation seem more plentiful than perhaps we’d prefer to believe. Yes, they falter and make grievous errors, but the country nonetheless survives; we live on.
The House’s Articles of Impeachment concerning President Trump allege abuses of power. Yet, assuming crime still involves intent, can anyone actually place himself within the mind and intent of our president? The lines of William Blake’s poem come to mind here: “In what furnace was thy {his} brain?” Trump’s mind is not necessarily an inviting place that most of us want anything to do with, and we must honestly concede the possibility that he did not understand the implications of what he was doing. It’s no secret, after all, that Trump’s worst enemy is…Trump.
As Eric Metaxas wisely pointed out recently as a guest on CNN’s Cuomo Prime Time, when flying, one doesn’t insist on the most righteous men as pilots; we are instead looking for people who can successfully pilot the aircraft safely to our destination. In past centuries, people were content with leaders who kept them and their loved ones safe and secure. While some of the arguments in the CT editorial seem factually baseless—implying, for instance, that a nation need not insist on the rule of law at its borders, that it has no inherent right to self-protection—the more important matter to tease out of the mass of interconnected and knotted threads that represent this difficult question is to decide who exactly it is we want as a leader. Do we want a president who makes eloquent speeches and great diplomatic shows with little good coming elsewhere, or do we instead desire a leader who will move the country in the right direction (in as much as it is possible), despite significant personal flaws?
It wasn’t that long ago, after all, that the following passage from Shakespeare’s Richard III would truthfully distill a subject’s opinion of life and his obligation to his country and king.
If you do sweat to put a tyrant down, You sleep in peace, the tyrant being slain; If you do fight against your country’s foes, Your country’s fat shall pay your pains the hire; If you do fight in safeguard of your wives, Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors; If you do free your children from the sword, Your children’s children quit it in your age. Then, in the name of God and all these rights, Advance your standards, draw your willing swords. For me, the ransom of my bold attempt Shall be this cold corpse on the earth’s cold face; But if I thrive, the gain of my attempt The least of you shall share his part thereof. Sound drums and trumpets boldly and cheerfully; God and Saint George! Richmond and victory!
Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Kindle Locations 71137-71150). Latus ePublishing. Kindle Edition.
Have we changed so much under a representative democracy? Isn’t the blood coursing through our veins the same as our fathers’ fathers before us? Character matters, of course, just as it always has, but I suggest leadership and character don’t always go hand-in-hand. Yes, I would be happy with President Pence, but I think that Christianity Today demonstrated a certain rosy optimism in our nation’s future that is not supported by current evidence. As the editorial rightfully suggested, President Trump is a symptom of a larger issue or sickness. To concentrate on one symptom alone is to ignore the larger disease eating away at both our souls and the tree of liberty. Our collective hearts have turned against God, and we are simply reaping what we have sowed. Undue protestations focus on the veneer while missing the underlying truth. Christ come.
Vigano’s Tears, A Poem
I don’t usually write much poetry, but I decided to share this little piece I penned earlier this year. (All the photos are also mine.)
Viganò’s Tears
I
Waters born within a forest of beech run swiftly south beyond Umbrian fields gold.
Sculpted sycamores stretch above the Tiber, smooth bark against a sky no stars do sail.
The walls of Castel Sant’Angelo and Roman lights reflect darkly, but no sentry bold
Remains at his post. Hadrian’s ghost stands alone, watching spilling tears that foul and assail.
The tears bear witness of darkness to the west: the ruiner of souls invited in.
Few protested; fewer raised arms. The deepest pit of night swept past that holy threshold.
II
High above the colonnades, Paul’s moist eyes of rock stare northwards; his old cloak is tear stained.
A salty rivulet runs down ancient columns and snakes between Roman cobblestones.
Cries echo for the children and young men both who fell as prey; no innocence retained.
Those who were entrusted to care for souls preyed on bodies instead: hearts of lifeless stone.
All the Church now weeps for what was lost and the dishonor conveyed upon Christ’s true bride.
Further in, not so far from the very threshold of Saint Peter’s, other figures moan.
III
Laocoon in darkness writhes with marble lips parting, but only the tears escape.
The entwined serpent even pauses in its bite to gravely consider the matter;
For the snake must know in its dark heart that it is only a pale reflection of that shape.
The shape of that vile thing invited past the threshold would stir the people to scatter.
Its face is hideously malformed. Its arms dripping with wickedness, it does onward climb.
It has nearly reached the beating heart of the cathedral grand. It quakes in sudden fear.
IV
At an unseen, yet towering gate, this vile thing halts its march to scream in burning pain.
The gate is born of the living tabernacle; its immutable strength and power
Is far greater than all of the priests, bishops, and popes who have been or will ever be. Rain.
Cleansing drops fall. No Zacchaeus to climb a Sycamore above the Tiber, no tower
From which to grasp the hand of Christ, our brother, or Mary, our mother, but hope and trust
Remind forever that the tears that bore witness of that darkness old are never in vain.
Take and drink: this is the cup of my Blood for the new and everlasting covenant.
A Conversation with Wingham Rowan on Sounds and Words
Today on the Sounds and Words podcast, my guest is Wingham Rowan, former television journalist, current speaker, author, and Gig Economy expert. If you haven’t noticed recently, today’s workforce is changing at lightning speed. While Uber and Lyft may make headlines, the new challenges facing the modern workforce are much more complicated than this kind of limited news coverage may suggest. For instance, all across the USA and United Kingdom employees and contractors are waiting to see if their services may be needed at their workplaces within the next few hours.
Complex algorithms are used by companies to calculate staffing needs, and these employees never know exactly when their services may be required. This creates untold difficulties (and quiet desperation at times) for these workers’ management of their personal lives. How, for example, does one arrange childcare in advance when one never knows the precise schedule? Even applying for other positions can become impractical. In Wingham Rowan’s popular Ted Talk, he introduced the idea of Modern Markets for All, but what does this mean exactly? Our conversation explores the daunting problem of the Irregular Worker within the Gig Economy–from the United Kingdom across the pond to the United States.
Wingham Rowan, Director of Beyond Jobs
Wingham Rowan is Director of the “Beyond Jobs” project in London, UK.
Beyond Jobs grew out of multiple UK government investments to create advanced markets for low skilled people seeking non-standard employment. Wingham oversaw these projects and market launches. He now works with cities in Europe and the USA.
Many years before “The Sharing Economy”, he authored two books (one published internationally) and countless articles about the potential of new markets for irregular economic activity in communities. At the time he was producing and hosting what became the UK’s longest running TV series about the Internet.
He has written multiple policy papers about the “grey zone” between structured work and unemployment. His papers advocating “Full Spectrum Employment Support” – increasing options for irregular workers in the workforce system, not just job seekers – have been published by institutes from the anti-poverty left to the free-market right.
From 2005 to 2013, Wingham ran projects funded by multiple UK government agencies to develop the markets he envisaged. Since 2015 he has been working to open source the sophisticated technologies required working with US philanthropies and public bodies.
The Singing in the Wood 