BLESSED

Robinson (My Secrets Cry Aloud,
2012) tells the story of an unorthodox preacher’s effect on a small Southern
town in this Christian novel.

The townspeople of Mercy, Kentucky,
didn’t know what to make of Grayson Armstrong when the 28-year-old came to
preach a trial sermon at New Hope Baptist Church. The search committee
chairman’s impression was representative: “He saw the shoulder-length hair and
the ill-fitting suit. Don’t look like any preacher I’ve ever seen, he thought. He looks like a little boy.” Twelve
years later, Grayson’s unexpected death sends shock waves through Ignite
Community Church, as New Hope Baptist became known under his leadership. The
novel, as narrated by various members of Grayson’s congregation, explores the
ways that the exceptional young preacher touched the lives of the people of
Mercy—including the diner waitress who wasn’t a churchgoer when he moved to
town; the Vietnam veteran whose PTSD causes people to avoid him; and even the congregants
who disagreed with Grayson’s controversial views, such as that an American flag
doesn’t belong in a house of worship. Grayson’s widow and children also speak
their pieces, revealing the personal side of a man who was reviled by some and
beloved by others. The portrait that emerges is not only that of a godly man,
but also of the imperfect community of everyday Christians that he attempted to
serve. Robinson’s prose is precise but malleable as she channels the voices of
her many characters and reveals their fears and desires. “It didn’t help that
living in Mercy was like living in a glass bowl,” reflects Tyler, Grayson’s gay
teenage son, for example. “Everyone knew everyone else’s business, and of
course they paid particular attention to ours.” Although Grayson’s Christ-like
presentation limits his complexity, Robinson does an admirable job of exploring
the varied personalities of other players as they grapple with their faith and
other beliefs. Grayson is the name on every character’s lips, but he ultimately
acts as a lens through which the reader can view each narrator. Overall, this
novel asks many probing questions, using a light blend of mystery, tragedy, and
reflection.

A thoughtful religious novel that
mostly overcomes its somewhat-bland main character.