The Soulmaking Room: Review

Last updated on: May 17, 2016 at 10:17 am by Erin Wathen

The Soulmaking Room: Review 2016-05-17T10:17:41-07:00 Erin Wathen

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There’s an obscure story in 2 Kings (that reads “Second Kings,” for all you politicians trying to quote scripture for pandering purposes) in which the prophet Elisha is taken into the home of some gracious hosts. In fact, his life as an itinerant preacher takes him by this house frequently, so the woman has her husband build a guest room– just so Elisha will have a place to crash when he’s in town. A biblical guest room! Isn’t that lovely?

Predictably (because it is a Bible story), this act of hospitality opens doors to all sorts of new life and transformation potential. I somehow made it through 12 years of Sunday school, 3 years of seminary and 15 years of pastoral ministry without ever noticing this little episode. But Dee Dee Risher certainly noticed it, and places it as the heart-center of her new book, The Soulmaking Room.

I appreciate how she takes this little-known but richly narrative story from scripture and wraps her own story around it. From there, she makes global connections that speak to the spiritual journey of all. Each of us builds a “room” in the life of faith…one where we make way for the mystery of God, and commit to the creative work of spiritual growth. That image carries throughout the book, creating a physical space in which this soul work can unfold.

Another dimension of this book that I deeply appreciate: it has a sense of place. If you’ve read my blog long enough, you know that I value this element of writing above all else. Whether we are talking about fiction, history or the newspaper, I like to come away from my reading material feeling like I have truly been somewhere. And Risher can take you some places–from the ancient world of the prophets to her childhood in the lowcountry of South Carolina, this book is a journey through varied landscapes. And I’m always up for a trip like that.

Through the story of the Shunamite woman, her own spiritual journey, and her commentary on the contemporary world, Risher reminds us that the life of faith can be deeply painful; but always hopeful, and ultimately, powerfully transformative. I appreciated stepping into her “Room” for a few hours. Here is a glimpse through that window:

Acts of hospitality–giving or receiving–alter our lives forever. When we give our lives over to God and to the mystery of faith, we commit to building a room–right onto our own house, up against the sky. When any of us embark in earnest on a spiritual journey, we commit to the same. No pilgrimage is sustained without the creation of a holy room. Yet, creating such space is extraordinarily difficult. In lives ridden with responsibilities, the tasks of daily maintenance and the inertia of the ordinary, finding a creative and open place for soul work is not easy.

Not easy. But always good. Step on in and see.

Visit the Patheos Book Club to read an excerpt from The Soulmaking Room, as well as an interview with its author, Dee Dee Risher.

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