BOOK REVIEW: LOVE IS THE WAY: Holding on to Hope in Troubled Times
I became a fan of Bishop Michael Curry last year when I came across his The Way of Love podcast one morning while out walking my dog as an escape from the cabin-fever of Florida’s COVID-19 quarantine. Bishop Curry’s calm discussions regarding the troubles facing our society and Christianity immediately grabbed my attention. His ability to respond with an attitude of seeking commonality, rather than promoting division, was a breath of fresh air in the middle of the heated political year of 2020. I decided to make my walk longer that morning, just so I could listen to a few more episodes of his podcast. When I returned home, a quick search revealed he had recently released a book: Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubled Times.
Bishop Michael Curry is the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church in the United States. Love is the Way recounts experiences throughout his life – as the descendent of slaves and the son of a civil rights activist – and his ministry which have impacted him and taught him to seek unity through shared values, rather than difference-based division. He writes of transformative figures in his childhood who modeled love for him, then explains how that has impacted him personally and his response to others.
Love is the Way, recounts Curry’s his life-changing experience of participating in events designed to build greater unity with Indigenous People Groups at Standing Rock, and how understanding the tie between their Christian faith and the land impacted his view regarding environmental concerns. He also gives a behind-the-scenes telling of the much-publicized events surrounding The Episcopal Church’s change to their definition of marriage, and the worldwide controversy that resulted. For Bishop Michael Curry, responding to every situation from a place of love for others is how we can build unity and community among Christians with whom we disagree, and be peacemakers in the world. He admits that this often results in working through contradictory and messy situations for the benefit of demonstrating love for others.
I would highly recommend this book, even for those who may not agree 100% with Curry’s views. Curry has managed to write the book in such a manner that communicates his struggles, challenges, and victories as he seeks to follow the example of Jesus. Love is the Way will challenge every reader to see the positivity that can result from asking, “What would love have me do?” in every situation.
You can pick up your copy of Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times from Amazon.
Wonderfully Plagued 