A Crazy, Holy Grace

The Healing Power of Pain and Memory

By: Frederick Buechner

Narrated by: Henry O. Arnold, Gabe Wicks

When pain is real, why is God silent?

Frederick Buechner has grappled with the nature of pain, grief, and grace ever since his father committed suicide when Buechner was a young boy. He continued that search as a father when his daughter struggled with anorexia. In this essential collection of essays, including one never before published, Frederick Buechner finds that the God who might seem so silent is ever near. He writes about what it means to be a steward of our pain, and about this grace from God that seems arbitrary and yet draws us to his holiness and care. Finally, he writes about the magic of memory and how it can close up the old wounds with the memories of past goodnesses and graces from God.

Here now are the best of Buechner's writings on pain and loss, covering such topics as the power of hidden secrets, loss of a dearly beloved, letting go, resurrection from the ruins, peace, and listening for the quiet voice of God. And he reveals that pain and sorrow can be a treasure - an amazing grace.

Buechner says that loss will come to all of us, but he writes that we are not alone. Crazy and unreal as it may sometimes seem, God's holy, healing grace is always present and available if we are still enough to receive it.

©2017 Frederick Buechner (P)2017 Zondervan

Are you struggling with loss? Listen to this man

Frederick Buechner is an incredible writer and I'm so glad I found this Audible book when I did. Just four hours of pure God given comfort and love from someone I've never met. Such a generous writer too, holding nothing back from his own experience with grief and loss. For any West Wings fans out there maybe you remember the anecdote Leo told Josh about the man in the hole. Here is it again, with my deepest thanks to the author, Frederick Buechner, for being the friend I never knew.

"This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, 'Hey you. Can you help me out?' The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, 'Father, I'm down in this hole can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by, 'Hey, Joe, it's me can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here.' The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'"
--West Wing
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on memory, on death, and what follows

the author traces and faces critical moments in his own life, coming to terms with the death, and perhaps the ongoing life, of loved ones

Outstanding

This writing has moved my heart and brought tears to my eyes. This is the first Buechner book I have read.

This too shall pass

From the depths of the authors soul to the depths of our soul healing and transformation begins .

I loved this book

I listened to this several times, and I will listen some more. This is great for people recovering from pain of loss, as well as people suffering from various difficult situations in life.

very uplifting

This extremely well read anthology from Buechner is a thought provoking and very uplifting story his life and how he overcame the hardships he faced. I highly recommend it.

Not what I expected

Much of this book rambles around through Buechner’s life, apparently with little purpose other than as a personal memoir. But toward the end, he begins weaving the pieces together to form an unexpected and meaningful pattern. He addresses the most difficult questions about life and death in a refreshingly unique way. If I had not listened to the end, I would not have rated this book very highly. But the concluding chapters make sense of the early chapters. Five stars.

What to do with pain

Buechner is helping me learn what to do with pain. It can break us, or make us better.

So gorgeous and profound

Buechner’s voice makes his fine words more touching and believable - the best of the best!

Read too fast!

Buechner is supposed to be enjoyed at a slower pace.. the whole reading is rushed so much you miss the literary genius of the work.. do yourself a favor and read this instead... Great book, horrible audio version