Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout, A book review by Rebecca Moll

I am certain, Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout, will abide with me for some time. This story holds the weight of your thoughts, the color of your emotions and refuses to go easily.

The main character, Tyler, a minister, speaks of The Feeling, his yearning for the presence of God, the feeling of peace, the beauty of grace. In all things, Tyler is a "giver." He is full of action, full of the best of intentions, always giving. It is the "receiving" that he finds difficult. Even after the tragic loss of his wife, his mourning deep and wide, his small children distant and lost, he finds it hard to accept the outstretched hands of help.

I find it interesting that Tyler finds The Feeling in the most unlikely of all places, only after all of his means and methods of doing are exhausted, only after he finds himself at a total loss, at the total mercy of others. Tyler finds The feeling, peace and grace, in just being, in letting go, for it is then, that he is able to receive love, peace, grace. And it is in receiving that the Lord abides with him.

I will need some time to think about this idea, so rooted in doing am I. If the ends justifies the means, or even if it doesn't, what does it say about the end if there is no means? If there is no doing? Can we find love, peace, and grace without doing? Maybe the answer lies inside. Maybe, it lies with me, begins with me? Maybe it is already there and Abides with Me?