Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne LamottMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
While many people grew up knowing, and growing into, their faith, whatever faith their lives lead, others didn't find their route to God/Allah until later in life. In Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith, Anne Lamott wrote about her path from unbeliever to believing in God, and becoming a liberal Christian.
The early part of the book describes her youth, playing tennis, growing up with liberal parents (her dad, a writer, mom, who became an attorney later in life) who happened to be nonbelievers. In the book, Lamott wrote about her years of heavy drug and alcohol use, of having several abortions, and, finally, deciding to keep one of her pregnancies. During this time, she would go to a large nearby weekend flea market, which happened to be across the street from a Presbyterian church. Eventually, the singing coming from the church drew her in, though she wouldn't stay for the sermon. But the message, music, and love she felt from the parishioners drew her to God.
This isn't a straight-forward "this is how I got saved and never messed up ever again" type book. Far from it. Anne Lamott is still a lefty, still into causes, has an irreverent sense of humor, and is still trying to find her way in this world. A good part of the book deals with having her son, Sam, while still muddling through the early days of her faith, bringing Sam to church with her, where some of the older women insist that Lamott "let me see my baby."
For anyone who wants to read about someone else finding their own path, whether or not the reader is a believer, Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith is a satisfying read.
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