Pick of the month
The wisdom House (4 out of 5)
Rob Parsons’ latest book proves fairly difficult to review, thanks largely to its undefinable form. The idea behind the book is a sort of flight of fancy from Rob, as he asks himself what wisdom he will offer his grandchildren (who are currently infants and toddling) when they are fully grown. The book provides the lessons for 25 fireside chats offering stories, wisdom, guidance, humour and affection.
The resulting grand-paternal treasure trove is an absolute joy to read. Rob writes with clarity, interest and affection. We get to delve into his insightful, often whimsical messages to his grandchildren, all of which are filled with an eclectic range of insights from wider culture, as well as Rob’s own life experiences. One chapter, which focuses on the inevitability of death, begins with a quotation from Steve Jobs, dabbles in 17th Century poetry, takes in a Google mistake that leads to a run-in with a questionnaire, dips into 18th Century French literature, slides into existential angst and finishes with a wonderful, deeply moving story about an early telephone. Rob’s range of illustrations, as well as his ability to take the reader on a journey from a pleasant chuckle to a heartfelt sob to wise insight, is on display here.
The earthiness and familiarity of the wisdom here allows Rob to speak to his adult grandchildren about the gospel lightly, but with the weight of truth in the context of their daily life experiences. The grandfatherly setting makes the whole thing very approachable and left me feeling cared for by Rob, which points the reader to God’s approachable care.
The question that I find myself asking continuously as I read the book is, ‘what is it for?’ This is a really hard to define book, which made me wonder how it is to be read. What impact might it have on work with children?
It might be called a pastoral memoir, to be used to encourage and equip children’s workers with wisdom, but it is a potential source of wisdom for anybody else too. Perhaps the messages and illustrations could be used to prompt ideas to present to groups and assemblies. It would almost certainly be a thoughtful, accessible gift for a parent who is not yet a Christian. All of these are possible uses for the book in children’s work, but it seems to me that it is unnecessary to limit this book to use in children’s work.
In fact, the book does not particularly want to be ‘used’ at all. Instead, it seems more like a resource for life. This is something to dip into and feel refreshed, challenged and reinvigorated by. This is a homely grandfather’s earthy, practical wisdom offered for no more practical reason than to make the reader wiser.
Jon Piper has recently entered his third decade of children’s work and is half way through an MA at London School of Theology
The life you never expected: thriving while parenting special needs children
What a gem! Parenting is never uneventful or easy, and Rachel and Andrew Wilson know this only too well, especially when you add into the mix that their children are also diagnosed with autism. Yet this book is filled with ‘joy-fuel’!
Honest, open and down to earth, The life you never expected brings insight into the day-today realities of parenting and life in general. Parents and carers of those with special needs will relate only too well to many of the tales they tell (I did!), but any reader who picks up this book will find pearls to treasure in the rush of life.
We are encouraged to face whatever life throws at us through weeping, worshipping, waiting, witnessing and maybe even catching a breath. Written with real honesty, it allows the reader to be honest too. Presented in bite-size chapters, this book is accessible and readable, even with three children hanging off your leg, and still brings encouragement with it. I will hold onto this book and re-read it regularly. I recommend it to you, as I will to my pastor, friends and anyone who has ever felt trapped or discouraged by the unexpectedness of life.
Emma Price is creative director of Create and Inspire (creative resources for schools and children’s ministry), senior children’s worker at Living Waters, Chorley, and a foster carer with a specialism in supporting placements with special needs
