A wonderful meditation on the nature of faith and the subtle ways in which shifts as a person gets older and has life events occur that alter things seemingly set in stone.

Through the lens of a pastor who knows he will be leaving the world, and the transgression of the reader consuming these letters to his child, there is a really strange relationship that is created. We know that it’s all fiction, but the idea that we aren’t supposed to be reading these personal letters and we have access to the insight of a person’s innermost thoughts—as well as simply the most important things they wish to divulge about themselves to their loved ones—not to mention someone of unshakable faith, really lends this an air of authenticity. It feels like narrative nonfiction most of the time.

Another thing to like is the situations discussed. You might think the things that are brought up might be really big questions and grandiose, necessarily, to convey the deepest parts of himself and be understood. But really it’s more about the mundanity of life and the beauty there, bookended with the absolute love he has and has had with his wife. The proposal story is so good and so moving, and quintessential to who he is as a person. All the stories have that same quality.

What’s more is it’s also not proselytizing to the audience. Faith as an everyday challenge met, and the questions in its contrivances and contradictions is the absolute point. It is not a simple faith at all that is unwavering. It is the person who challenges his beliefs constantly that ends up with a cornerstone. I thought that was a beautiful notion to pass along to the reader, and not at all heavy handed; deduced by consuming his thoughts, instead of a Midnight Library banging you over the head with its conclusions.

A fantastic read, all round.