The first phrase that comes to mind in reading Preston Yancey's book Tables in the Wilderness is 'stream of consciousness.' He spends the majority of the book talking about being broken and not finding his way in his Christian beliefs. Truly, he's like a majority of young people who are attempting to pay homage to their upbringing, and at the same time decide if that's how they want to live their own adulthood. And as his friend, Sam, says---Preston's not broken, though he continues to insist that he is. Really, he's just seeking. Claiming brokenness all the time might be more of a self-indulgent attention-getter, but my experience is that when you feel that way, you really feel that way. You don't mean to come across as a martyr, though those who hear your grumbles might believe you sound that way.
It is refreshing. To read about a person's internal struggle with an honest attitude feels good to me. He's not a know-it-all, though he is smug at times. He has a poetic gift for getting his point across, but is angsty through most of his storytelling. He seems in mental anguish, though that might sound extreme.
His focus is on God's presence having left him. That's he's out in the world on his own, drifting without any direction. He seems to be looking for sure signs of what he's supposed to do, and only later in the book feels confident to make smart decisions after struggling through prayer. To act no matter.
I believe that any honest Christian could relate to what Preston has experienced---what he's been open enough to share. And happily, he does end the book on an upbeat note. He breaks out into the light again. Took all of his college years, but he does get there.
(i received this book free to review from booklookbloggers)
