Where the Colors Blend: An Authentic Journey Through Spiritual Doubt and Despair … and a Beautiful Arrival at Hope

by Stephen Copeland

In Where the Colors Blend, Stephen Copeland’s self-discovery and God-discovery is told over a period of six years in the context of an annual retreat to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia, where an obscure, forty-year-old church softball tournament takes place each summer to raise funds for mission work in Paraguay. In stepping into these stories, and sharing them with the reader, Stephen simultaneously journeys deeper within himself, discovering the divine in the process and taking readers deep into the throes of doubt, deconstruction, and depression. But it’s there, in the darkness, that an authentic hope finds him. Throughout the narrative, readers experience with Stephen a number of paradigm shifts in the areas of:

Spirituality: from exhausting oneself trying to get close to God to simply abiding: awakening to who we already are at the core of our beings as children of God.
Psychology: from suppressing emotions, pains, and insecurities to curiously and non-judgmentally exploring them.
Relationships: from trying to change others or silently judging them to accepting others as they are and learning from those who are most different than ourselves: abandoning ignorance and arrogance.
Art, writing, and work: from being taunted by internal demands and a relentless pursuit of perfection to simply enjoying the gift of the process.

Stephen's present-tense narrative, mysteriously unfolding all the way, is free-thinking and free-flowing, swinging from humor to complex theology, from someone else’s story to sudden introspectiveness and application, creating a unique experience for readers as it challenges them to adopt their own lifestyle of introspection and contemplation.

292 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2018

About the author

Stephen Copeland is an author and storyteller who writes regularly for Franciscan Media and the St. Anthony Messenger. He is the author of In the House of Rising Sounds, Where the Colors Blend, and collaborator on Franciscan Lectio. He obtained his bachelor's degree in journalism and Bible from Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, and Master of Theological Studies degree from the Franciscan School of Theology at the University of San Diego. Stephen's work can be found at www.copelandwrites.com.

Reviews

[Jeremy Smith]

From the beginning of this story, Copeland delicately writes how people and a tournament become the anchor to a wandering life of transformation. The talented writing of Copeland is portrayed to the fullest in these pages, with his use of wit, conversational writing that quickly can change to a sorrowful story. As the reader enters into the mind of a 20-something man who has rightfully struggled with the idea of God, Copeland lays down on paper how finding God in stories of a country thousands of miles away from home, is what is needed to continue the endless journey of searching for hope.

Any millennial Christian who has grown up in the conformities of the Western church and faith would be refreshed (and renewed) to read this book. Copeland beautifully puts to words what many of us are thinking about God and gives his thoughts on how that God relates to us in the 21st Century of Western culture.

[Debbie]

There is so much that I loved about this book. The intertwining story of two families and the author's first person account of how meeting and interacting with them helped him regain a "new" faith was interesting and endearing. His introspection often leads to profound wisdom. Based on just the story content, I'd have rated this 5 stars.
However, I really wish the writer had had a better editor. I wish the writer and/or editor was more confident in either their character description or the intelligence of the reader eliminating the need to "reintroduce" who people were throughout the book. There were so many unnecessary words, making it sometimes feel like when a student adds "filler" words to reach the required word count.

Overall, it is definitely a book worth reading. I think this is the writer's first book and, thus, I look forward to future books as he continues to refine his skills - or finds a better editor.

[Joshua Little]

"Where the Colors Blend" serves as a vulnerable, genuine & beautifully-written invitation to wrestle with many of life's most challenging and existential questions. Throughout his writing, Copeland encourages us to trade in our bondage of guilt & performance-based faith for union with Christ - and to hear the voice of Jesus say to each of us, "You are my beloved."

This book models & encourages honesty & self-reflection through the work of the Holy Spirit. If you have ever felt tired, weary, skeptical, cynical or out-of-answers in your Christian faith, this book will leave you encouraged that you are not alone & that in the midst of the valleys you experience, there is a loving God who joins you in the valley.

5/5 Stars

[Amanda Cooper]

Excellent read written with transparency of the author's journey through the deconstruction and reconstruction of his faith. Stephen shares what the many of us who grew up in the "Christian home" experienced. He rawly shares his struggles with "religion" and what claimed Christians have often molded many's experiences to be ultimately questioning the authenticity of God and His supposed love for mankind. Through divine intervention of connections, tragedy, and the pursuit of purpose for many, this truly unique story will inspire many to truly seek God, discover their purpose(s) and reevaluate what truly matters in this life.

[Brian Leslie]

Where the Colors Blend is a welcome journey of discovery, meaning, purpose, and joy. Thankful for the ride that Copeland so skillfully shares with us.

What an honest and heart-felt read. This book by Stephen Copeland has written a book that feels more like a warm conversation between friends. I am thankful for this conversation as it was a welcome reminder that deconstruction is not to be feared and that the greatest thing that is true about us is that we are beloved by God.

[Holly Fisher]

Beautiful story of faith - how it sustains us and our journey to deepen and grow it. Stephen does a lovely job of sharing the story of others while taking along on his own spiritual awakening.

[Amber]

Beautifully written telling of a family's mission and how the author's faith journey was shaped by it.