Through Painted Deserts : Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road
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Written by Donald Miller.
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Editorial Review (from Amazon.com)
Fueled by the belief that something better exists than the mundane life they've been living, free spirits Don and Paul set off on an adventure-filled road trip in search of deeper meaning, beauty, and an explanation for life. Many young men dream of such a trip, but few are brave enough to actually attempt it. Fewer still have the writing skills of Donald Miller, who records the trip with wide-eyed honesty in achingly beautiful prose. In this completely revised edition, he discusses everything from the nature of friendship, the reason for pain, and the origins of beauty.
As they travel from Texas to Oregon in Paul's cantankerous Volkswagen van, the two friends encounter a variety of fascinating people, witness the fullness of nature's splendor, and learn unexpected lessons about themselves, each other, and even God.
"A record of a classic road trip. Miller's tale is full of serendipitous adventures and thoughtful Christian reflection . . . offering the sort of deep-thought wanderings into meaning and significance that are the meat of college-age existence . . . a reminder that life was meant to be lived, not just gotten through." (Publishers Weekly)
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Seraphim thinks this book is Excellent.
Donald Miller has long been heralded as the layman's voice in the search for God. There is no pretense with God - life and faith isn't automatic for him, and he isn't afraid to admit it. What's so amazing about Through Painted Deserts is the way in which Don experiences God through the simple beauty of "His house."
The story is told autobiographically as Don and his friend Paul Harris decide one day to pile into an old VW van with the intention of leaving their residence in Texas behind and traveling northwest to Oregon. This life of simplicity, where worth is not measure by the clothes worn or the status in life, leads Don and Paul through a journey to discover themselves and God's "dance" with the world.
I like this book so much - Don Miller speaks to my heart, because he is just like me: caught up in the details and useless bits of the world, too focused on the mundane to see the true beauty of God's design. It's a call to take a breath...take time to revel in the majesty of God, and to see His hand in the workings of the world.
Fayelle thinks this book is Excellent.
Every living person should read this book. PHENOMENAL. Read 2007