Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir by Susan E. Isaacs
This book came along at the perfect moment in my life.
First, this is the second memoir I’ve read this week and this one, by far, stands out as combining all of the elements of what makes good reading. Humor, thoughtfulness, anger, honesty – it’s all contained along with a good dose of humility and, of course, faith.
I laughed out loud at several portions of this book. Basically, Susan has decided that her marriage with God is in serious jeopardy and she takes him to couples counseling with a pastor, Rudy. Rudy encourages Susan to give voice to God and Jesus (She believes the Holy Spirit just.. is around), so she can work through her perceptions and beliefs in an environment that is there to aid her in her faith.
Susan struggles (as I myself have struggled) with finding a good church, a good body of Christ to worship with, to be strengthened and encouraged by. And she does find some doozy’s, I’ll tell you that right now. She struggles with finding a mate, a man who fulfills her needs both spiritually and physically (and by this, she really struggles with finding someone who wants her sexually but is willing to wait until, as Beyonce says, “he puts a ring on it”).
SUSAN: Just say it: I’m angry and no one will like me.
GOD: No. I will not say that. But don’t you think we ached for you to find a lover you could share your whole life with? I used your teachers to encourage you creatively when the church could not. I used Georgina to build structure in your life when you had none. I used the Rock’n'Rollers to heal you, and Pedro to wake you up. I worked with whatever I got my hands on. Can you see that?
SUSAN: The church terrified me to live.
GOD: The church healed your wounds. The church introduced you to me. And you’re ungrateful because I didn’t adhere to your timetable?
It’s easy to get carried away with things and then, while repenting from them, blame God for not putting the right people in your life, blame Him for seemingly allowing temptation to step forward and take hold of you.
SUSAN: Well, you know who got the joke? You know who got me? You know who appreciated me and made me feel like I mattered? Heathens and drunks and potheads and Jews.
GOD: I sent whomever I could get!
SUSAN: That was you? You put those people in my life? Then why were you so upset when I fell in love with David?
GOD: Don’t boink the messenger.
JESUS: (To God) At least David was a Jew. She could have fallen for a pothead.
Through humor Susan takes us through her life, the ups and the downs. And how does it all end? .. Well I encourage you to check this book out and see for yourself.
This sounds like a very interesting book. Thanks for sharing this review.