Broken People

It's been a while since I last posted. I've been busy-- writing my second book. My first book i self-published and has sold a few copies, mostly people I know. I won't be retiring from my day job at this point, but I am writing because I feel the stories I am telling are important.

My first book "Homecoming" deals with some pretty intense social issues. Someone I know casually is reading it, and we crossed paths and she mentioned it. I asked her if she was enjoying it and her response was, "it's intense." I didn't know how to interpret that response and so I asked, "Is that a good thing or bad thing?" Her reply was again open to interpretation when she said, "It's not your typical Christian fiction."

I've been chewing on that exchange ever since. This is what I have decided: too many of us in the church prefer life that plays like "typical Christian fiction." But the thing is, life's not like that. As I have been thinking about the "synopsis" for my second book that I hope to release in the next few weeks, the description that came to my mind was-- it's NOT typical Christian fiction, because it's not comfortable Christians, it's for Christians who still remember their own desperate need for a Savior.

The truth is that my books are full of broken people-- even CHRISTIAN broken people. The reality is, that's what churches are full of. Even those of us who try to put on a good show at come across as the "perfect Christian," we're just exhausting ourselves and pushing away other broken people. We are all very aware of our own brokenness. Even if we think we have other people buying into our facades, we are all works in process far from the completed masterpieces God is creating, that we will never see on this side of eternity.

Easter has just passed. It's a time of outreach and "sharing Christ," but what are we like a week or two later when the broken people who come looking for the Jesus we have proclaimed. Are we suddenly back to being focused on the status quo? Do we get back to a place of not wanting to make disciples of Christ, but rather disciples of ourselves? Do those who come needing Jesus find Him-- the one who loves them unconditionally, and accepts them as they are, broken? Or do we greet them at the door with a list of "to do's" that says, "Change your life," "Be this way."

Jesus came for the broken. He called those who knew their need for Him, and wanted to receive what He had for them. What He has for each one of us is different for each one of us. He sees our brokenness and He is the answer. As a church, we are but a tool to direct the broken toward Him. We need to embrace our own brokenness to truly be able to embrace the broken. (And I will encourage you, if you don't think you are broken, look harder-- you have not arrived.)

So I am glad the my book is considered "intense" and atypical, because that is the reality of life. I hope my book will be read by just one unbeliever who will realize that Jesus came for them. I pray my book is read by just one believer who has avoided accepting the unconditional love of the God who sees beyond their facade.

WE ARE BROKEN-- CHRISTIANS ARE BROKEN!! We struggle with sin, we don't like ourselves all the time, we struggle with depression, anxiety, we have pasts-- we are people who desperately needed a Savior, the only difference between us and the rest of the world is that we found Him.

If you're interested in my book, you can find more information about Homecoming - The Redemption Series (Volume 1) at www.dianadepriest.com. (Available on Kindle and in paperback at Amazon.com) Coming soon: Fallout - The Redemption Series (Volume 2)