Sin Boldly
(Author: Chris Levan, © United Church Publishing House, 1997)
No, the author is not inviting bad
behavior. Instead, Levan has put together a contemporary collection of short
anecdotes about everyday things. These are things that we all think about but
seldom discuss openly. For example, “What happens when we die?” Levan doesn’t
supply us with all the answers. Instead, he discusses the beliefs of different
peoples and religions, as he describes how “Trying to see past death helps us to
live now.”
Levan’s book is insightful,
whether or not you’re religiously minded. It is about honesty, spirituality &
soul searching. Levan says in one of these stories that “no matter your
religion, you don’t need a truck-load of money or a well of insight to get in
touch with the inner peace you seek. The search for your soul requires three
things: time, honesty & simplicity”. This statement sums up his philosophy. He
is telling us in this narrative that anyone can do the soul searching that we
all so need to become enlightened, happy, balanced people. We don’t have to
travel and stay in monasteries or convents. We can find our inner spirit from
here (meaning wherever we are in our life right now). We simply must look inward
and spend time honestly evaluating our relationship with our- selves and others.
All of the stories contain
interesting life experiences with titles like “Does my dog have a Soul”, and
“Don’t wait for the Right Time”. Levan adds a humorous twist to his writing.
For example, he provides an account of a very prim and proper elderly women’s
church group that got a new leader. After a wonderful potluck dinner at the
minister’s house, everyone was giggling and laughing and having a terrific time.
They all said it was the best time they had had in years! When they were
leaving, they were complimenting the minister’s wife on her punch and wanting
the recipe. As the new leader passed the minister on her way out, she whispered
to him that her contribution was the gin in the punch.
Levan’s approach makes “Sin
Boldly” a positive Book and an easy read. I recommend it highly!
