A few more thoughts about God, memoir, and cultural narcissism

Last updated on: January 22, 2010 at 2:24 pm by Amy Julia Becker

A few more thoughts about God, memoir, and cultural narcissism 2010-01-22T14:24:00-05:00 Amy Julia Becker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

And now a few more thoughts… The important thing about memoir in general is that it not be simply a chronicle of events, but rather a story telling a larger truth. So, for instance, on the surface, Penelope Ayers is the story of my mother-in-law dying of cancer. Which is a rather mundane experience, and a rather depressing one at that.

But more importantly, and the reason it seemed to me to be worth writing down for a wider audience, Penelope Ayers is the story of what happened in her, and what happened in me, as she battled the disease. In the end, it is a story that asks the question: “How do I continue to believe in the goodness and purpose of life in the face of all that is wrong in this world?” Now that is a question worth trying to answer.

Similarly, right now I’m working on a second book. This one is also a memoir, and, again, on the surface it is about a young couple who learn that their daughter has Down syndrome. But the more important story-line, the universal one, is of a young couple learning to value every human life as it is given. For the public to read my journals about Penny’s early days of life would be voyeurism. Hopefully, reading a memoir about those days will be a witness to God’s work in our lives and the potential for God to work in similar ways in other lives.

So yes, confession and redemption are important to making memoir worthwhile. I hope the confession and redemption displayed in my writing is rooted in a deeper spiritual reality, the reality that God actually loves human beings and in the midst of the mess of our lives, continues to work to draw us towards Him.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 22, 2010

Cultural Narcissism and Memoir: Confession and Redemption Without God?

Next Post

January 23, 2010 Adultery and Grace

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Articles Books Disability Down Syndrome Faith family Perfectly Human Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz